Motor-run trawlers being built flouting govt rules at Sarail
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Our Correspondent
BRAHMANBARIA, Apr 26: Motor-run trawlers and engine boats are being made illegally at Aurail, a remote area on the bank of the river Titas, under the district's Sarail Upazila. The illegal business goes on evading taxes and violating government rules, said reliable sources. Motor-run trawler of different sizes are being built here by local technicians. A big size trawler is sold at between Tk 20.00 million and Tk 25.00 million, a medium size one between Tk 10.00 million and Tk 15.00 million and a small size trawler between Tk 7.00 million and Tk 8.00 million. The government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue as the dockyard-owners are evading payment of licence fee; value added tax (VAT) and commercial development tax etc. According to the Internal Navigation Control Ordinance of 1976, the dockyard-owners have to submit design and building plan of any vessel to the concerned government agency for permission, and to pay all the taxes duly before construction. One is liable to be sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10000.00 for violating the government rules. But the unauthorised dock yard owners have long been engaged in building trawlers and engine-boats of various sizes with active patronization from a section of corrupt BIWTC officials, the sources also said. The local people cannot even protest the establishment of dockyards in the heart of densely populated villages polluting environment, because their owners are influential, and maintain connection with various government organisations to run their business smoothly, the sources added. The local people have urged the government to take immediate actions against the culprits. Hotels evading govt tax Another report adds: The government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue as several hundred hotels and restaurants are allegedly evading VAT and income tax, sources said. A restaurant with 30 seats and a hotel with over 10 beds must obtain licence from the concerned authorities for operating business according to government rule. Under the law a hotel or a restaurant will be fined Tk 1000 everyday if it continues to flout the government rule. A large number of hotels and restaurants across the district are run without any licence and registration. With the rapid development in the communication sector, a large number of businessmen and other people from outside the district now visit Upazila headquarters of Sarail, Nasirnagar, Ashugonj, Nabinagar, Bancharampur, Kasba, Akhaura and district headquarters with ease for business purposes. Nearly half a dozen rural markets in the district also draw a large number of traders and visitors from far-flung areas. A few hundred hotels and restaurants have sprung up at the district and the upazila headquarters as well as in rural areas. Some of the hotels are also engaged in flesh trade, it is alleged.
BRAHMANBARIA, Apr 26: Motor-run trawlers and engine boats are being made illegally at Aurail, a remote area on the bank of the river Titas, under the district's Sarail Upazila. The illegal business goes on evading taxes and violating government rules, said reliable sources. Motor-run trawler of different sizes are being built here by local technicians. A big size trawler is sold at between Tk 20.00 million and Tk 25.00 million, a medium size one between Tk 10.00 million and Tk 15.00 million and a small size trawler between Tk 7.00 million and Tk 8.00 million. The government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue as the dockyard-owners are evading payment of licence fee; value added tax (VAT) and commercial development tax etc. According to the Internal Navigation Control Ordinance of 1976, the dockyard-owners have to submit design and building plan of any vessel to the concerned government agency for permission, and to pay all the taxes duly before construction. One is liable to be sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10000.00 for violating the government rules. But the unauthorised dock yard owners have long been engaged in building trawlers and engine-boats of various sizes with active patronization from a section of corrupt BIWTC officials, the sources also said. The local people cannot even protest the establishment of dockyards in the heart of densely populated villages polluting environment, because their owners are influential, and maintain connection with various government organisations to run their business smoothly, the sources added. The local people have urged the government to take immediate actions against the culprits. Hotels evading govt tax Another report adds: The government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue as several hundred hotels and restaurants are allegedly evading VAT and income tax, sources said. A restaurant with 30 seats and a hotel with over 10 beds must obtain licence from the concerned authorities for operating business according to government rule. Under the law a hotel or a restaurant will be fined Tk 1000 everyday if it continues to flout the government rule. A large number of hotels and restaurants across the district are run without any licence and registration. With the rapid development in the communication sector, a large number of businessmen and other people from outside the district now visit Upazila headquarters of Sarail, Nasirnagar, Ashugonj, Nabinagar, Bancharampur, Kasba, Akhaura and district headquarters with ease for business purposes. Nearly half a dozen rural markets in the district also draw a large number of traders and visitors from far-flung areas. A few hundred hotels and restaurants have sprung up at the district and the upazila headquarters as well as in rural areas. Some of the hotels are also engaged in flesh trade, it is alleged.