‘Revenue collection grows 15.0pc on average over last few years’

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said Bangladesh witnessed a massive development in the revenue sector after the Awami League government assumed office in 2009.

He informed the revenue collection has witnessed a growth of around 15 per cent on average over the last few years.

The finance minister came up with the statement while addressing a function marking the distribution of national tax cards and honour awards held at the Officers’ Club in the capital. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the programme, according to BSS.

“You’re paying tax to do something for the lagging behind communities of the society. Paying tax is not only a duty but also a good deed,” he told the audience.

The minister said the metro rail (MRT Line-6) in the capital has been materialised with the taxpayers’ money and thus termed it as a ‘great achievement’ of the country.

“We’ve enjoyed a nice moment today with your (people) money provided as tax. Metro rail is a great achievement of the country,” he said.

NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said that a common question often encircled in the minds of valued taxpayers that why should they pay taxes. “But now they can surely see that the mega projects are very much visible before their eyes,”

“We’re doing such things so that the taxpayers feel motivated to pay tax voluntarily. Side by side, transparency has been ensured in the tax system,” he added.

Finance Division Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin said that the tax management system should be made more automated to simplify the tax payment system.

She also opined that the number of taxpayers in the country should be raised to 18.0 million to turn Bangladesh into a higher middle-income country and beyond.

Prof Dr Pran Gopal Dutta, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, and media personality Shykh Seraj, among others, spoke on the occasion.

The NBR at the function handed over tax cards and honour awards to some 141 individuals and institutions as the best taxpayers for FY22.

Among the best taxpayers, 76 were in the individual category, 53 in the company category and 12 in other categories.