NBR honours 316 taxpayers

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday awarded 316 taxpayers of six divisions to recognise and appreciate their contribution to the national exchequer as it celebrated the first National Income Tax Day.
Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam and NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid gave crests and certificates to the taxpayers at a ceremony, organised at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The national revenue collection agency also organised a colourful procession and a rally in Dhaka and published special supplements in newspapers to mark the occasion.
Among the awarded taxpayers, Rahim Uddin Bhorosha of Rangpur District came up as the highest taxpayer in the country with a payment of Tk 1.38 crore in tax for the last fiscal year.
Shamson H Chowdhury, chairman of Square Group, was selected as the most consistent taxpayer to the government over time.
Bhorosha, as he received the award, appreciated the government initiative to observe September 15 as National Income Tax Day. He said the tax payment system should be simpler.
Chowdhury praised the government's innovative way to recognise contribution of the taxpayers to the national revenue earnings, adding that the initiative will encourage businesspeople to pay taxes regularly.
The NBR chairman said the initiative gave recognition to the leading taxpayers at district level, and the initiative will continue in the years to come. The highest and the most consistent taxpayers of six city corporations will also be rewarded in a separate programme, he said.
Of the 316 taxpayers, 124 have been awarded for being the most consistent taxpayers over a period of 15 years, while 192 taxpayers have been awarded for paying the highest taxes.
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam expressed his dismay over the insignificant contribution of income tax to the national economy, which, he said, is poor as compared to any other country of the world. He emphasised legal expertise, honesty and neutrality of tax administration in increasing flow of income tax.
The NBR published the names of six top taxpayers from as many divisions. They are: Rahim Uddin Bhorasha from Rajshahi Division (Tk 1.38 crore), Mohammad Yunus Ali from Dhaka Division (Tk 73 lakh), Kazi Mazharul Haque from Khulna Division (Tk 62 lakh), Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury from Chittagong Division (Tk 54 lakh), Jalal Uddin from Sylhet Division (Tk 52 lakh) and Monirul Islam Talukder from Barisal Division (Tk 44 lakh).
Most consistent taxpayers from six divisions are: Shamson H Chowdhury from Rajshahi Division, Saidul Rahman from Dhaka Division, Neamat Ullah from Chittagong Division, Khandaker Sakhawat Hossain from Khulna Division, Abdul Hamid Mian from Sylhet Division and Akther-uz-Zaman from Barisal Division.