NBR lists tax-dodging traders

The country's revenue board has made a list of businessmen who have deprived the government of huge revenues annually by dodging taxes in various ways, its chief Md. Nojibur Rahman said Thursday.  
The Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said the Board is planning to launch a special drive against the tax-dodgers to boost the government's revenue collection.
Without naming the businessmen and their actual number, he said a committee has already been formed to deal with the matter to ensure fair and transparent business climate in the country.
"We cannot disclose their names right now as success of the NBR strategy largely depends on confidentiality and a team is working to launch an operation in Khulna in this connection," he said while speaking at a function opening the new headquarters of the Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation.
The programme was held at the conference room of the directorate located at the 9th floor of the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) where annual publication of the directorate was also unveiled.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan was present at the function as the chief guest.
The NBR Chairman said the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology would provide state-of-the-art facility to the revenue board as part of the government's plan to make it more efficient.
Mr. Rahman said they have also taken various steps for further strengthening three intelligence wings - Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) and two others for VAT and Customs to raise their contributions to the country's socio-economic development.
"I do believe that these moves will surely help ensure good governance and modern management in the country's revenue system," he said.
According to the statistics of Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation, some 365 kilogrammes of gold worth Tk 1.82 billion were recovered in the last fiscal year (FY'15) followed by Tk 178 million, Tk 68 million, Tk 34 million and Tk 33 million in the form of seizing illegal consignments of foreign currency, drugs, tobacco and electronic products respectively.
Speaking as the chief guest, the state minister said the government has been working for bringing in an atmosphere of good governance in all sectors of the country.
"The NBR is a place where good governance is required most and it is being reformed gradually. It's a continuous process. Now they (revenue officials) are working as a good team, which is also reflected in the output of the board," he said.  
Responding to a question, Director General of Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Dr Moinul Khan said though the smugglers change their routes frequently, they would not be able to evade the intelligence officials now as their network has spread all over the country.
Talking about legal procedures, the DG gave credit to the courts, saying that the courts did not grant bail to any of the smugglers. This has a positive impact on the Directorate's activities.
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