Finance minister wants specific allegations against tax officials
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Finance minister wants specific allegations against tax officials

Bangladesh

TBS Report
23 January, 2022, 05:50 pm
Last modified: 23 January, 2022, 09:25 pm

Related News

  • Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products
  • Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
  • Finance minister calls for stock market stabilisation
  • What really drives our low tax-to-GDP ratio! 
  • Trump pays $110,000 fine for blocking New York state tax probe

Finance minister wants specific allegations against tax officials

TBS Report
23 January, 2022, 05:50 pm
Last modified: 23 January, 2022, 09:25 pm
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Sketch: TBS
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Sketch: TBS

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said his ministry could look into the allegations of harassment raised by businessmen against tax officials if those are submitted specifically.

Minister Kamal came up with the statement on Sunday, a day after business leaders at a views-exchange of the Council of Chamber Presidents at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) auditorium in Dhaka alleged that they were facing extortion and non-cooperation from the field-level civil administration even amid the pandemic-induced slowdown in business.

"If the FBCCI has any complaint, they are definitely related to our ministry. If they let us know their grievances, we will take care of them. I think we can find solutions to their allegations," he said while talking to reporters after presiding over the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase.

Earlier on Saturday, the FBCCI issued a press release highlighting various allegations against taxmen, raised by business leaders at the meeting of Council of Chamber Presidents.

At the meeting, business leaders also complained that small and medium enterprises at the district level were not getting loans under the government-announced stimulus package even after being affected by the pandemic, which is making it difficult for the marginal traders to recoup the pandemic-induced losses.

Apart from complaining of delays and irregularities in disbursements of stimulus loans, the businesses also demanded that the loan repayment period is extended till at least June this year.

Regarding allegations of irregularities in the distribution of stimulus loans, the finance minister said, "I cannot answer such a generalised question. You have to ask specific questions and give me time to get answers to these questions."

Mentioning that there are relevant ministries or divisions, the minister said he can come up with an answer before the media only after he discusses the matter with the division concerned.

He, however, assured that those for whom the incentive money has been allocated will get it, even if the loan disbursement process is delayed.

"Even after delays in disbursement, the stimulus loans will not be canceled. This is because there is no way to cancel it. If they [businesses] meet the conditions we have set, they will get the loans."

In response to a question on the government's move to increase the prices of gas, fertilizer and electricity amid the pandemic, the finance minister said he was still unaware of any such move by the government.

"I will be able to look after the matter only after I am informed of it.

"I will definitely do what I should do. Our government is a government of the people. We move with all the people of this country, and I think this path will never be interrupted. We will move forward taking everyone with us."

Shamsul Arefin, additional secretary to the Cabinet Division, told reporters that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved in principle the purchase proposal for construction work on Bangladesh pavilion at the International Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2022 to be held in Almere, Netherlands from April 14 to 9 October this year.

In addition, the committee approved in principle the purchase of a modern geo-location system for the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre under the Public Security Division.

On the other hand, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved the construction of a bridge over the River Payra on the Kachua-Betagi-Patuakhali-Lohalia-Kalaiya road of the Bangladesh Bridges Authority under the Bridges Division. This project will be implemented by the Samwhan-Mir Akhter joint venture at a cost of Tk641 crore.

The committee also approved a proposal to purchase a vehicle mounted data interceptor (VOIP) and related services from the United States at a cost of Tk56 crore for the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre.

Top News

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal / tax / Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP)

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladesh among top 20 prospective solar farm capacity nations
  • The war has blocked Ukraine’s grain exports by sea, cutting off vital supplies for countries from Somalia to Egypt.Photographer: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg
    Russia is winning from the global food crisis it helped create
  • PM for protecting environment during implementation of development projects
    PM for protecting environment during implementation of development projects

MOST VIEWED

  • Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
    Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
  • Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
    Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
  • Traffic jam as overturned van rescue takes 6hrs
    Traffic jam as overturned van rescue takes 6hrs
  • Photo: Collected
    BSEC seeks explanations from Shakib Al Hasan on entering gold venture
  • Project delays: The Sinohydro case
    Project delays: The Sinohydro case
  • File photo of Mahfuz Anam
    Explanation by Mahfuz Anam

Related News

  • Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products
  • Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
  • Finance minister calls for stock market stabilisation
  • What really drives our low tax-to-GDP ratio! 
  • Trump pays $110,000 fine for blocking New York state tax probe

Features

Psycure has received various awards for their extraordinary contributions to promoting Sustainable Development Goals. Photo: Courtesy

Psycure: Meet the organisation serving the underserved university students (and beyond) with mental healthcare 

8h | Panorama
Underlying problems such as school dropouts need to be addressed first before taking a legal route to stop child labour. Photo: Reuters

‘Child labour in a country like Bangladesh is primarily a development issue, not so much of enforcement’

9h | Panorama
The balcony railings of the Boro Sardar Bari in Sonargaon. Made of cast iron, these railings feature vertical posts with intricate designs on top. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The evolution of railing and grille designs

1d | Habitat
A Russian army service member fires a howitzer during drills at the Kuzminsky range in the southern Rostov region, Russia January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov/File Photo

3 months of Ukraine war : Miscalculations, resistance and redirected focus

1d | Analysis

More Videos from TBS

Soaring commodity prices put pressure on budget

Soaring commodity prices put pressure on budget

4h | Videos
The alarming effects of the global food crisis

The alarming effects of the global food crisis

7h | Videos
Mangoes from Satkhira going to Iraq

Mangoes from Satkhira going to Iraq

8h | Videos
The dream of building home on moon

The dream of building home on moon

9h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

4
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

5
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

6
Illustration: TBS
Banking

Let taka slide

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab