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Former finance minister AMA Muhith has expressed his interest to cooperate with the current finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, in formulating the budget for the next financial year.
“There is something ready for the next year's budget. You can call when needed. I’ll be present and do as far as I can,” said Muhith said to Kamal at a reception organised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday.
After taking over the charge of the finance ministry under the Sheikh Hasina-led government in 2009, Muhith had presented 10 budgets in a row and two budgets during the military regime of HM Ershad.
"I'm going on retirement, but not bidding adieu to work. I have time now. I have no plans to go abroad before next April, "said Muhith who retired from politics recently, as per a bdnews24.com report.
He advised Kamal to raise revenue collection to a “reasonable level” by setting a five-year target.
“I don’t think our revenue collection is more than 12 per cent of our GDP,” he said.
In Muhith’s view, it would be possible for Kamal to increase the number of income tax payers to as high as 10 million in his term.
He recalled how the number grew from 700,000 to 1.5 million and finally crossed the 3 million mark.
“Please bear in mind that we are advancing in a process and we need to take it forward so that it becomes automatic,” Muhith added.