The New Nation - Internet Edition

316 taxpayers get national honour

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam suggested banking on income tax as the main source of internal resources as the share of import duty is going down by the day due the globalization and simplification of world trade system.

He made the observations while addressing the first-ever National Income Tax Day function yesterday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, where the government honored 316 taxpayers from 64 districts, excluding six city corporations, to motivate other eligible persons to pay taxes.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organized the National Income Tax Day observance to honor the taxpayers in 'long-term taxpayer' and 'highest taxpayer' categories. NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid presided over the ceremony.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed was supposed to attend the ceremony as chief guest but couldn't for his visit to China from today. The NBR chairman read out a message of greetings from the chief adviser.

Finance Adviser Dr Aziz gave away certificates and crests to six persons each in the two groups (long-term taxpayers and highest taxpayers) from six divisions.

The six tax VIPs in the long-term category are Sayedur Rahm from Dhaka division, Samson H Chowdhury from Rajshahi division, Mohammad Neamat Ullah from Chittagong, Khandokar Sakhawat Hossain from Khulna, Abdul Hamid Miah from Sylhet and Akhteruzzaman from Barisal division.

The six the highest taxpayer category are Rahim Uddin Bharasha from Rajshahi division, Mohammad Yunus Ali from Dhaka, Mohammad Jalal Uddin from Sylhet, Kazi Mozaharul Huq from Khulna, Mashiur Rahman Chowdhury from Chittagong and Manirul Islam Talukder from Barisal division.

Dr Aziz said as Bangladesh is a least developed country (LDC), like the other LDCs Bangladesh has insufficient infrastructure facilities.

"This was mainly caused by lack of adequate funds from the internal resources," he told the gathering.

Dr Aziz admitted that the government could not take proper initiatives for collecting adequate revenue from the internal resources.

He stressed the need for mobilizing resources from the internal sectors of the country, mainly from the income-tax sector.

"We have to put importance on the collection of income tax as this is not only a main source of revenue collection but also a weapon for ensuring social justice," the Adviser told his army of taxmen.

He mentioned the preconditions for increasing income-tax collection, which are transparency of laws, efficiency and neutrality of the tax administration, tax-related education and awareness of the taxpayers and fascination to become self-motivated taxpayers.

"The government has already taken some steps to make tax payment much easier and smoother for the convenience of the taxpayers," the finance adviser said.

These steps are: simplification of the income-tax return system, introducing universal self-assessment system, cutback on the company tax rate and discretionary powers of the tax officials, and training of the NBR officials on automation system.

NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said that the crest and certificates of the 'long-term taxpayer' and 'highest taxpayer' categories among the six city corporations' taxpayers would be distributed very soon.

"We have to take decision about our next generation whether they will live on loan and aid or step on their own foot. If we go for the second, we have no other option but to pay taxes in due time at due rate," he said.

Take stern action against extortionists, terrorists, Home Adviser orders cops

UNB, Dhaka

Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday ordered the law-enforcing agencies to take stern action against extortionists and terrorists as the government took serious note of a spurt in the incidence of crime in the capital.

The home-ministry custodian of the caretaker government issued the orders hot on the heels of Sunday's daring snatching incident in Tejgaon area and yesterday's killing of a garment businessman at Paltan.

Muggers snatched away Tk 46 lakh after shooting assistant manager Biplob of ACI company from Tejgaon Industrial area Sunday, while three people, including a director of a garment factory, were killed in separate incidents in city's Mirpur, Purana Paltan and Agargaon areas late Sunday and Monday.

Talking to reporters after chairing a law-and-order review meeting at his Ministry, the Home Adviser said recent incidents, including Sunday's mugging, indicated that law and order in the city took a knock.

He made a stark observation that suspected muggers and extortionists and terrorists came out from their hideouts on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, Durga Puja and the upcoming elections.

Replying to a question, he said law-enforcing agencies have been armed with preparations to tackle any situation if the government relaxes the emergency.

"I don't think that law and order will deteriorate after relaxation of the Emergency Power Rules," the Home Adviser added.

Meanwhile, meeting sources said that some 6,000 law- enforcers, 4,000 of them police, have been deployed in the capital for smooth celebration of Eid and Durga Puja-the two biggest religious festivals of the Muslims and the Hindus.

Eid-ul-Fitr may be celebrated on October 1 or 2 and Durga Puja October 5-9.

The meeting was told that a total of 171 'orange' teams, which are special police teams, are on the patrol in the capital to combat snatchers.

Besides, police were asked to strengthen night patrol so that city-dwellers, especially women, can do their eid shopping at night without fear.

Hindu community leaders present at the meeting informed that some 2,100 puja mandops were set up last year.

They urged more security and uninterrupted power supply keeping in mind that the number of puja altars will be higher than last year's.

Secretaries of Home, Power and Information Ministries, acting Inspector General of Police, DMP Commissioner and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.

Hindu community leaders, including Maj Gen (rtd) CR Dutta, were present.

Tough movement after Eid if Hasina not released permanently: Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday threatened to wage a tough movement if party chief Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA for treatment, was not released permanently before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Zillur Rahman also accused the government of indulging in a deep-rooted conspiracy to defer the stalled parliamentary elections, slated for the third week of December as per the government and Election Commission-declared roadmap.

"The government must release our leader Sheikh Hasina before the Eid, or else, we'll have no option but to go for a tough movement to free our great leader Sheikh Hasina," he said.

He was talking to reporters when a delegation of Phulbaria Pourasava led by its mayor Golam Kibria came to meet him at his Gulshan residence this noon.

Zillur also questioned the government's motive behind their attempts to bring Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to the negotiation table saying that the government was "doing excesses" in this regard.

Later, Zillur Rahman at a discussion meeting, commemorating the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, accused the government of designing to defer the long-awaited national election.

Tungipara Association in Dhaka arranged the meeting at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) auditorium with Sheikh Kabir Hossain in the chair.

Awami League presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta, acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, former president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, among others, addressed the meeting.

"The conspiracy against the parliamentary elections is very clear. In the name of upazila election, the government is trying to create an anarchic situation in the country," he said.

Zillur asked the government to explain why it cannot arrange the national election before upazila polls.

"The government has its preparations to arrange elections in 300 upazilas then what's its problem in arranging the parliamentary polls?" he questioned.

He was highly critical of the caretaker government as the "real corrupts" are now getting released from jail.

"The Hawa Bhaban Hero (Tarique Rahman) and his mother Khaleda are now free. But the most innocent person, Sheikh Hasina, has not been released yet. How unfortunate the matter is!" he said.

Zillur also alleged that the government is trying to rehabilitate those politicians who were responsible for the political crisis of 1/11.

He asked the government to fully lift the state of emergency and declare a specific date for the parliamentary elections.

Amir Hossain Amu said the anti-liberation forces have again planned to foil the parliamentary elections, as they want to bring back militancy and communalism in the country.

"When leader of the country's pro-liberation and progressive people Sheikh Hasina is yet to be released permanently, Khaled Zia, Tarique Rahman who were the key persons behind the rising militancy are now free," he said.

Red-carpet reception given to CA in Beijing

UNB, Beijing

A red-carpet reception was accorded to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, as he arrived in Beijing yesterday morning on a 4-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Chief Adviser's wife Neena Ahmed is accompanying the Chief Adviser.

Assistant Foreign Minister of China Hu Zhengyue received the CA at the VVIP lounge of the Beijing Capital Airport. Two tiny tots presented bouquets to the CA and his wife.

Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed was also present at the airport.

A flight of Dragon Air, carrying the CA and his entourage from Dhaka via Hong Kong, landed at the airport at about 12:25 am (local time).

Later, the CA was taken in ceremonial motorcade to the Diaoyutai State Guest House where he will stay during his four-day trip of Beijing.

The CA left Dhaka for Beijing early yesterday.