Finance Minister A M A Muhith yesterday informed parliament that a total of 711 kgs smuggled gold were seized at different airports of the country during the current fiscal (2013-14 FY) till May this year.Besides, the custom officials recovered some 38.48 kgs smuggled gold from different airports during the last 2012-13 financial year, he said while replying to a tabled question of treasury bench member Md. Abdul Wadud in the House. Responding to another question of Independent lawmaker Hazi Mohammad Selim, the minister said the government had paid $ 4,951 million equivalent to Taka nearly 38,618 crore in foreign loans during the last five years. Of the total, $ 3,971 million equivalent to Taka about 30, 974 crore were basic loan and $ 980 million equivalent to Taka about 7,688 were interest, he said. Giving a comparison, he said the foreign loan payment amount from 2004- 2005 to 2008-2009 fiscal years were $ 3,681 million equivalent to Taka nearly 28,712 crore. Of the total, $2756.10 million equivalent to Taka about 21,498 crore were basic loan while $ 924.90 million equivalent to Taka nearly 7,214 were interest.On another question from treasury bench member Chhobi Biswas, the minister informed the House that a total of 9,78,627 people at individual level tax payers category had submitted income tax return by May during the current fiscal year.
