The National Board of Revenue will work in tandem with the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries to stop harrying tradespeople while collecting much-needed tax revenue. FBCCI, the apex trade body, and NBR, the tax authority, thus came to this understanding at a view-exchange meeting between the two entities at FBCCI Bhaban in the capital’s Motijheel financial district on Monday. Discussants at the forum spoke highly of NBR officials’ harassment in the name of tax collection. At the same time, they urged the authorities to reconsider the tax policy for the sectors like apparel, aluminum, steel and paper. At the event, NBR Chairman Najibur Rahman said the “harassment culture” must be stopped. “Although NBR officials are working with full motivation, some of them still carry a ghetto mentality. We’ve already warned them.” The relationship between the NBR and the businessmen should be like the hands and the gloves, he observed. FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad presided over the meeting. Matlub said the businessmen do not want to pay VAT where Tk 3 is spent to pay VAT of Tk 1. “Sometimes we don’t want to pay VAT, but we aren’t dishonest. Come and teach us how to pay VAT.” He placed a three-point proposal to the NBR to find a fix in collecting revenue. The proposals are formation of an NBR desk at FBCCI office, organisation of tax fairs jointly and training for businessmen. Najibur accepted the proposals and invited the FBCCI to join the proposed Thematic Group of NBR on VAT, Tax and Customs. NBR members Farid Uddin, Parvez Iqbal and Enayet Hossain, FBCCI First Vice-president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and other office-holders, representatives from all chambers and associations were present at the meeting.
