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Income tax fair has begun in all divisional headquarters, four districts and seven upazilas.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the weeklong tax fair Tuesday at city's Officers' Club premises on the day.
The fair in eight divisional headquarters will continue until November 19, 2018.
On the first day, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) received Tk 2.18 billion in taxes, up by Tk 100 million from than that of the corresponding year.
The number of tax returns submitted at the fairs on Tuesday was 49.48 per cent higher than that of the last year, said a statement of NBR.
Speaking on the occasion, the finance minister said the number of total taxpayers in the country should be at least 40 million.
He said some 10 million people currently pay tax in various forms.
He, however, said currently there are 3.0 million registered taxpayers in the country.
NBR Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the tax fair, first started in 2010, has gained enormous popularity.
"Taxmen should realise this and provide similar services to the taxpayers in tax offices," he said.
He said the tax-GDP ratio should be increased to 15 per cent from existing ratio of 10 per cent.
According to the statement of the NBR, some 1,13,699 persons obtained different services from the tax fair across the country on the first day.
Number of service seeker increased by 43.72 per cent compared to that of the previous year, it said.
There were rush of young and women taxpayers in the tax fairs for submission of income tax returns, obtaining e-TIN, availing e-payment and e-filing facilities.
The NBR set up separate booths for senior citizens, women, physically challenged and freedom fighters. Some 15 shuttle buses have been arranged to provide transportation facilities to the taxpayers. The buses will pick and drop the taxpayers from city's TSC, Rampura, Baily Road, Motijheel, Mirpur and Uttara.
The tax fair will remain open from 9.0 am to 5.0 pm until November 19 in all divisional headquarters.
In the tax fair, some 40 students of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College attended in a tax education forum and joined a quiz competition. Of them, some 10 winners received certificates and books.
Ziauddin Mahmood, member tax administration and human resource management, handed over certificates and awards to the students.