Courting respect

Falsehood stated repeatedly has a tendency to become accepted as the truth. It is the way of the mind that seeks reassurance and conviction. On the contrary, the truth told many times over has lesser effect, doomed as it usually is to be ignored as a falsehood. It holds assurance and conviction at the first go and is not believed.

Such could well be the reason why Finance Ministers and the tax man repeatedly talk of increasing the number of tax payers. Year on year the same statement is beginning to sound stale because action does not follow the words. So while the top ten individual tax payers deserve felicitation and privileges on paying the maximum tax and top ten companies likewise for contributing to the country's economic well-being, the list raises some awkward questions.

Only one businessman Golam Dastagir Gazi is an immediate standout among the ten individuals in the crowd of influential business leaders heading different chambers. Where the other moneyed men and women are is not known. Whether it is a question of the top nine not willing to engage in regular 'high-profile' parleys, or whether those in leadership position play the game for the sake of the business community is a proposition worth the debate. Similar can be said of the leading companies. None of the supposed big guns makes the cut. The telcos, big tobacco, pharma giants, garments, food and beverage companies, banks save one and FMCG companies are not on the list in spite of having significant foreign investments.

Yet their voices are often heard most vocally arguing for reform and lifting of restrictions and rationalisation of tax. Unfortunately, given that VAT is the largest revenue basket, no separate list is prepared for providing incentives. Also of concern is that only one individual of the ten is from outside Dhaka. And of the companies again only one is outside Dhaka albeit 20 kilometres undertakings the capital. Six of the ten are significantly either government or having large government stakes in with Chevron, Toma Construction, Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Uttara Finance and Investments completing the run.

So, maybe, some thought is required whether it is fancy accounting or unfriendly/unimplemented policies that are coming in between realisation of full tax potential. The recent move of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to probe tax returns of influential businessmen foraying into education is a case in point. It took a massive student movement to loosen the armlock of proper monitoring of tax payers.

The government needs to show clearly the benefits of tax payments beyond the welcome incentive scheme so that when it speaks the truth, it means it.

(The writer may be reached at mahmudrahman@gmail.com)