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Business leaders have called for an end to bribery, sporadic tax summons, and all forms of harassment to ensure a smooth flow of business and investment.
They also emphasized the need for reasonable tax rates, increase quality of logistics and uninterrupted supplies of gas and electricity to protect their investment.
These demands came on Wednesday from the consultative meeting between the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Mohammad Shawkot Aziz Rasel said at the event that businesses are being forced to pay hefty bribes to release bank guarantees used for clearing goods at ports, despite the actual tax amount being significantly lower.
He explained that while the BTMA previously handled the issuance of release certificates, this responsibility has since been transferred to customs.
“Now, we must pay Tk 50,000 in bribes for each guarantee release, whereas the actual tax would have only been Tk 30,000,” Rasel said.
“What was once a straightforward process has turned into a costly burden. This change brings no benefit to the NBR, yet it seriously disrupts business operations.”
He also drew attention to the ongoing power and gas crises plaguing the industrial sector and urged the government to extend current corporate tax facilities until 2028.
At the event, Meghna Group Chairman Mustafa Kamal stated that bank accounts and tax files are being repeatedly summoned.
He remarked that such actions can occur at any time, and noted that incidents of harassment have increased following the change after the regime change.
Kamal called for an end to such practices in order to foster a more business-friendly environment.
Emphasizing over ensuring supply of gas and electricity he said that the Meghna group invested over $600 million to establish economic zone in Cumilla.
However, the connection of utility is yet to be confirmed for the last two years, he said.
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