Staff Reporter :
The government would not change any duty structure until the ensuing Holy Month of Ramadan ends, said Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday.
“If we change the duty structure, then there might be crisis to some extent. If we change the policy structure, then there might be some problem too. But, message has already been given that until the Ramadan ends, there will be no changes in the structure (duty structure),” he added.
The finance adviser was responding to the queries of reporters after chairing the 2nd meeting of the Advisers’ Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.
When asked about the possible changes in the rates of VAT and income tax, he said that the government would rationalize the income tax structure.
“Our goal is that whoever is capable enough will have to pay tax … if a certain person has capability to pay tax, then he or she will have to pay tax (as per rules) and thus the capable persons couldn’t evade tax. We need to enhance our tax collection alongside widening the tax net,” he added.
About the government’s move for widening the tax net, the adviser said there are still many capable businessmen in the country who do not have VAT registration and TIN certificates. For bringing those people under the tax net, Dr Salehuddin said he has already asked the NBR to make a quick survey to identify the potential tax payers and VAT payers.
The finance adviser said that the government is encouraging those alternate business houses in promoting their business operations who did not get the chance in the last 15 years due to lack of level playing field.
Regarding the government’s preparations on the essential items ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan, he said that lentil has been imported and procured while the supply of soybean oil has also become stable and tolerable. “If necessary, we can import those items again.”
So, the common people including the middle class people could avail those and there is no such crisis regarding availability of these items, he added.
The finance adviser said that the government should have to strengthen further the market monitoring as it would not work only with the operations of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), especially the wholesalers and retailers should have to be brought under strict monitoring.
