The tax zone in Khulna has hit a significant milestone after registering 100,000 taxpayer's identification numbers in 2016-17, the highest among all zones in the country. 

The Khulna zone reached the milestone in the first week of May, according to Iqbal Hossain, tax commissioner of Khulna. “The enrolled one lakh TIN-holders have to submit their returns and they will contribute to our national revenue generation,” he said at a programme at his office in the divisional city yesterday.

The tax commissioner said the National Board of Revenue has undertaken a host of measures to raise awareness among people so they enrol as TIN-holders.

The country's 31 tax zones have registered 860,000 as new TIN-holders in the current fiscal year, according to tax officials. With the new addition, the number of TIN-holders in the Khulna reached 301,527. 

In another achievement, the zone also exceeded the tax return submission target in the current fiscal year.

Khulna, which is comprised of 10 districts, is home to 9.5 percent of the country's total population. Of them, 11.62 percent have TINs.

Bimol Saha, a small trader, said he needed the TIN when he wanted to run his business.

“It is not difficult to get a TIN. One just has to provide some information and necessary documents to have a TIN.”

KM Ohidul Alam, commissioner for customs, excise and VAT of the zone, Abdul Mannan Sikhder, appeal commissioner for customs and VAT, SM Mohashin, food controller of the region, and Rupon Chandra Das, assistant tax commissioner, were present.