BSS, Rajshahi :
More Value Added Tax (VAT) collection is important to keep the country’s economic wheel moving at a faster pace instead of relying on foreign help, speakers at a views-sharing meeting said here.
They viewed there is no alternative to augment revenue collection from the internal resources for lessening dependency on foreign aid.
The Commissionerate of Customs, Excise and VAT organized the meeting at Nanking Darbar Hall in Rajshahi on Thursday to mark the National VAT Day-2014 where a large number of businessmen, government officials and elite of the society attended. Marking the occasion, 22 highest VAT payers on different categories were awarded. The week-long VAT campaign was also inaugurated.
Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Barrister Mahbubur Rahman and President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abu Bakker Ali addressed the ceremony as the chief and special guest respectively. Begum Farjana Afroz, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, chaired the function. In his address of welcome, Additional Customs Commissioner Fakhrul Alam narrated the significance of the day and aspects of adequate revenue collection.
“Everyone of us should feel about how to develop the nation and how to reduce the dependency on foreign aid,” said Barrister Mahbubur Rahman adding that the existing provision of importing tax-free vehicle by the lawmakers should be abolished. He viewed that the enhanced revenue collection from the internal arena could be the effective means of reducing dependence on foreign aid for executing the uplift programmes.
Barrister Rahman underscored the need for making traders and businessmen habituated with VAT payment as the present government is intended to execute the development programmes with the internal resources.
Importance should be given on creating mass awareness about more revenue collection in the interest of making the country economically self-reliant.
In observance of the day, officials and staff of the commissionerate and Income Tax Department organized a huge rally that paraded through the city thoroughfares carrying placards, banners and festoons.
