No indiscriminate tax exemption in future: PM

The government will not entertain indiscriminate tax exemption in future and will motivate the eligible taxpayers to pay their taxes, report agencies. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this when a delegation of Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) led by its chairman Sheikh Kabir Hossain called on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Sunday. The Prime Minister said some people often opted for tax exemption, but such exemption will not be allowed to continue. Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad quoted the Prime Minister as saying that the mentality to evade taxes should be changed for the betterment of the people and the country. The government would become tough in realising taxes and encourage the people to pay taxes, the Prime Minister said. Hasina said that without realisation of taxes properly from the eligible persons the government would not be able to continue the development works. Hasina also informed the delegation that the government was actively considering introduction of agriculture and health insurances. During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of insurance and said the farmers and the people would be benefited from the introduction of health and agriculture insurances. This will take forward implementation of government's social security programmes, she added. BIA chairman appreciated development programmes of the Prime Minister and expressed the hope that the programmes would lead the country toward rapid progress. He assured the Prime Minister of all cooperation for implementation of the government's development programmes. The Prime Minister referred to the importance of insurance in the financial sector and suggested extensive campaigns to popularise insurance. She cautioned the people who are playing with the fate of the poor and said none would be allowed to do so.