NBR recognises 5 firms as chams of E-return compliance

Staff Reporter :

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has honoured five organisations as “e-return champions” for their leadership in embracing the digital tax system.
The awardees-Sonali Bank PLC, British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Ltd, BRAC, BURO Bangladesh, and Renata PLC-received certificates at a ceremony held yesterday at Le Méridien Dhaka.

The recognition coincided with NBR’s celebration of a landmark achievement: issuing more than half a million certificates, licences, and permits (CLPs) through the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) platform. Launched in January 2025, the BSW enables businesses to obtain government authorisations via a single digital portal, significantly reducing time and paperwork.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, speaking as chief guest, urged greater participation from businesses in the digital tax initiative.

“We already have some strong examples like BRAC, British American Tobacco, and others. I hope more firms will join, especially as the platform and apps are running smoothly. Digitalisation is not optional-it’s essential,” he stressed.

Highlighting service as the foundation of tax compliance, he said,
“This is not just about revenue collection-it’s about service delivery. When people receive efficient services, they willingly pay their taxes and fees. Without good service, payments are delayed or avoided.”
Addressing Bangladesh’s low tax-to-GDP ratio, Salehuddin drew a comparison,
“In Brazil, the ratio is around 26 percent because citizens see clear returns in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. If we improve services here, willingness to pay will follow. This is only the beginning of that journey.”

Initially launched with seven agencies, the BSW now integrates all 19 CLP-issuing authorities, including BEZA, BSTI, BIDA, and the Department of Environment. So far, the platform has processed 578,491 CLPs, with 84 percent completed within one hour and 95 percent within a single day.