Govt to launch automated payment system of all its charges
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Naim-Ul-Karim
The government has taken a decision to introduce automation of payment of all sorts of revenue, which includes utility charges, duty and taxes, officials said.
They said the decision was taken at a meeting with Kazi M Aminul Islam, secretary of the chief adviser's office in the chair on February 04 where all stakeholders attended.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has offered cooperation in the preparation of required guidelines for developing countrywide automation system under the government 'Access to Information Programme'.
In line with the decision of the meeting, KAM Morshed, assistant country director of the UNDP-Bangladesh, told the FE that implementation of the automation system will start from Mach next.
"We are set to extend all sorts of supports including logistics and training to stakeholders concerned of the Bangladesh government in introducing electronic payment system," he said.
Morshed said the last meeting of the Access to Information Programme decided to bring all income sources of Bangladesh government under online payment system although initially it was planned for only utility bill payment.
A technical committee, formed in this connection, has already recommended bringing changes in existing legal framework to facilitate introduction of the automated system, he said.
The committee also recommended developing a computersied consumer ledger with database of clients so that it can be updated as soon as the bill or revenue is paid.
It also recommended that the service providing entities of the government will use 'open standards' to ensure easy upgrading and data interchange between various stakeholders including government and Bangladesh Bank.
The Bangladesh Bank should take necessary steps to facilitate bank-to-bank automation online transaction by deploying tools for 'Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) through public private partnership, the technical committee recommended.
Apart from this, it also recommended establishment of linkage among departments concerned of the government and land and mobile phone operators and banks to facilitate the electronic payment.
Bangladesh Bank will take necessary measures to formulate regulatory framework and policy for electronic transfer of fund through setting up the Online Utility Payment Gateway.
Morshed said the meeting decided to form a taskforce to review the recommendations and bring changes in the existing rules and regulations shortly, if needed.
When asked, Morshed said payment of any revenue including tax and utility services will be possible from anywhere of the country without any hassle once the system is developed.
After the introduction of electronic payment the revenue stamp affixation will not be required, he said and added instead of revenue stamp affixation, banks will charge the utility service providers, whenever applicable, for each bill paid and transfer the amount to the National Board of Revenue.
The government has taken a decision to introduce automation of payment of all sorts of revenue, which includes utility charges, duty and taxes, officials said.
They said the decision was taken at a meeting with Kazi M Aminul Islam, secretary of the chief adviser's office in the chair on February 04 where all stakeholders attended.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has offered cooperation in the preparation of required guidelines for developing countrywide automation system under the government 'Access to Information Programme'.
In line with the decision of the meeting, KAM Morshed, assistant country director of the UNDP-Bangladesh, told the FE that implementation of the automation system will start from Mach next.
"We are set to extend all sorts of supports including logistics and training to stakeholders concerned of the Bangladesh government in introducing electronic payment system," he said.
Morshed said the last meeting of the Access to Information Programme decided to bring all income sources of Bangladesh government under online payment system although initially it was planned for only utility bill payment.
A technical committee, formed in this connection, has already recommended bringing changes in existing legal framework to facilitate introduction of the automated system, he said.
The committee also recommended developing a computersied consumer ledger with database of clients so that it can be updated as soon as the bill or revenue is paid.
It also recommended that the service providing entities of the government will use 'open standards' to ensure easy upgrading and data interchange between various stakeholders including government and Bangladesh Bank.
The Bangladesh Bank should take necessary steps to facilitate bank-to-bank automation online transaction by deploying tools for 'Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) through public private partnership, the technical committee recommended.
Apart from this, it also recommended establishment of linkage among departments concerned of the government and land and mobile phone operators and banks to facilitate the electronic payment.
Bangladesh Bank will take necessary measures to formulate regulatory framework and policy for electronic transfer of fund through setting up the Online Utility Payment Gateway.
Morshed said the meeting decided to form a taskforce to review the recommendations and bring changes in the existing rules and regulations shortly, if needed.
When asked, Morshed said payment of any revenue including tax and utility services will be possible from anywhere of the country without any hassle once the system is developed.
After the introduction of electronic payment the revenue stamp affixation will not be required, he said and added instead of revenue stamp affixation, banks will charge the utility service providers, whenever applicable, for each bill paid and transfer the amount to the National Board of Revenue.