Earning money from business not a crime: Kamal

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said making money through business is not a crime.

“But we all have responsibilities to do something for the development of the state. For this, tax should be paid by those who have taxable income,” he told a programme at Officers’ Club in the capital on Wednesday. 

At the programme, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) honoured 141 individuals and organisations for paying the highest tax in the fiscal year 2020-21. Of them, 75 are individuals.

Kamal called upon all to pay taxes for the country’s development, saying the government invests taxpayers’ money in citizens’ welfare. All wealthy people should pay taxes out of responsibility, he said. He also said Bangladesh’s per capita income had risen to be equal to that of China and India as people had paid taxes.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Md Jashim Uddin attended the programme as a special guest while NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem presided over it.

Jashim said, “I appreciate the work of identifying taxpayers through surveys. It is necessary to raise awareness and set up NBR offices in upazilas to increase the number of taxpayers.”

The NBR chairman said taxpayers clearly see that taxes enhance the country’s economic and infrastructural development. He said people had become enthusiastic about paying taxes.

“Our ability to pay taxes at the individual level is increasing. The NBR is trying to bring everyone under the tax net. Work has started to digitalise and automate the revenue board in order to widen the tax net.” Md Kaus Mia, a 90-year-old businessman who has been the highest taxpayer for 11 consecutive years, said at the event, “It feels good to be the top taxpayer.”

“I became the highest taxpayer once before independence. Also, I have been the top taxpayer for the last few years in a row,” he said.

“Business is growing in the country and so is mine. That is why I pay regular taxes,” he added. In addition to the 141 individuals and organisations, the NBR also recognised 525 taxpayers in two categories.