Kamal irked by delays in NBR’s automation
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday expressed his disappointment to the taxmen for failing to keep the promise he made to the prime minister to automate the tax collection system.
"I promised the prime minister and the people that the tax system would be automated soon but there is no progress in the process," he said at a programme organised by the NBR to honour top taxpayers.
Kamal said that despite being the finance minister, he could not automate the National Board of Revenue because of the delays caused by a section of officials of the tax administrator, which is also the implementing agency of the automation system. He also expressed anger at the event that the NBR organises every year at its office in Dhaka to disburse tax cards among the best tax payers.
"I am saying again that the people of the country want to pay tax but we are failing to collect it. Now, we will have to collect the tax money from the people," Kamal added.
The country's tax-GDP ratio has remained the same at 10 per cent for some years, he said, adding that if tax collection is not improved, the dream of becoming a developed country will remain a dream only.
He urged the NBR officials to stop being lazy and take steps to automate the tax collection system without further delay.
Tax leakage has reduced to some extent thanks to the installation of cash register machines across the country, he said while asking the NBR to instal more such machines to boost revenue collection.
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