Editors stress need for NBR to widen reach
NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid holds a meeting with editors of the print and electronic media in Dhaka yesterday.
Editors of the print and electronic media yesterday suggested that the National Board of Revenue reach out to more people by developing its infrastructure so that it can increase revenue earnings.
The senior journalists also stressed the need for reforming tax administration to dispel fears among people about tax issues.
Rahat Khan, acting editor of Bangla-language daily Ittefaq, Moazzem Hossain, editor of business daily The Financial Express, Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, and Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of Bangla-language daily Manavzamin, attended a programme with NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid at the NBR office.
Mazid chaired the discussion, which was organised to share the initiatives of tax authorities who have recently decided to honour 320 taxpayers from 64 districts as part of its move to encourage people to pay taxes.
The tax administration has also moved to open camps at different vital locations in city corporations to help taxpayers submit their returns. Meanwhile, it has also decided to collect income tax returns on a specific day in every upazila and district, Mazid said.
Rahat Khan, acting editor of Ittefaq, stressed the need for administrative reforms to boost revenue earnings. “The process of tax payment should be simplified," he said.
Moazzem Hossain, editor of The Financial Express, said that fears among people regarding paying taxes should be removed. “It is imperative to make a fear-free environment for people."
Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, said: “We will always be with you (tax administrators) on this journey to help widen the tax net. But you should make your services far more outreaching to the public."
Anam suggested opening separate desks or booths at different bank branches and in upazilas to increase revenue collections.
Anam said psychological transformation is needed among people to improve revenue earnings. “The impact on revenue earnings will be limited by spreading fear. It will be more effective if scope for increasing awareness and honouring people is present.”
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