Kamal Assures Businessmen of All-Out Fiscal Cooperation

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday assured the business community of an all-out fiscal cooperation in the upcoming budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, reports media.

“I assure you [business community] that you will not be disappointed. Once you are disappointed, the country will lag behind,” he told a budget consultative meeting at a hotel in the capital.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly organised the meeting. Businessmen representing different chambers and associations attended it.

Kamal said, “We will present each of the submitted proposals in the form of a bill at the planning meeting on the upcoming budget.” 

He urged businessmen to pay taxes for the sake of national development, saying the government would not have been able to construct the Padma bridge if taxpayers had not paid taxes.

Focusing on the government’s tax policy, he said those who earn more would pay higher taxes. “Besides, we want to broaden the scope of direct tax and lessen the coverage of indirect one,” the minister further said.

“In the last 13 years, revenue collection increased eight times to Tk 2.59 crore. This happened due to the contributions of the business community and other taxpayers,” he said.

Kamal said Bangladesh had left its footprint everywhere. “We make history everywhere. The victory is in front of us, and this year is the year of victory. For taking the country forward, we need everyone’s support.”

NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said they were working to keep VAT tolerable both at wholesale and retail levels.