‘Stop depending on development projects’

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday directed its officials concerned to increase revenue income and reduce dependency on projects.

The mayor gave the direction while delivering his speech at the Revenue Conference, attended by all officials and employees of DSCC's revenue department at Nagar Bhaban.

Taposh said they failed to collect revenue earlier, as the city corporation was under different kinds of limitations, and they had to seek help from the government.

He said DSCC had to depend on projects. They prepared projects to get funds from the government and got money after approval.

"We have to reduce dependency on projects and increase revenue income capacity," Taposh said.

Giving importance to encouraging businesspeople to get trade licence, the mayor said the number of trade licences issued by DSCC is 2.18 lakh, which is not sufficient.

There are many people in Dhaka city who are not taxed, although they are doing business. So, they will have to be brought under taxation, he said.

The mayor said the number of holding tax is only Tk 1.83 lakh. The fixed amount is old and would be increased.

The revenue target set up in the current fiscal, Tk 300 crore for holding tax and Tk 200 crore for trade license, is achievable, he said.

It is possible to achieve revenue collection through existing workforce, and this will also solve problems of workforce shortage and infrastructure weaknesses, he said.

"Officials or employees who will do their duty properly will get rewarded, but those who don't, and those who harass people -- will face punishment," the mayor warned.

Taposh said the more revenue they collect, the more services they will be able to provide. He directed officials concerned to update revenue related information.