Rising holding tax triggers public outcry in Sylhet

Sylhet Bureau :
A sudden rise in holding tax has triggered outcry among owners of houses in different wards under the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC). The SCC authorities set a makeshift camp in front of Nagar Bhaban to help the city-dwellers pay taxes and provide required information. Almost all the house owners were worried about the abnormal hike in holding taxes, many people alleged.
Sources informed that the tax rise has been even over 200 to 300 per cent for old 27 wards in the city. Almost all the people, who came to the camp for paying taxes, were annoyed about the tax hike. It will be difficult for many to clear the dues.
They claimed that these are just a double blow to them at this time of hardship. Addressing rallies, various forums raised concerns and demanded fresh assessments to reduce the tax rates.
On Tuesday, some of them met SCC Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury and handed over a memorandum.
Officials at the Durnitimukto Bangladesh Forum in their memorandum demanded supply of pure drinking water, parking facilities at the malls and markets, effective traffic system and corruption-free city services.
However, SCC officials said if anyone finds it too much, he or she can file an appeal for resettlement of the tax. It will be properly reassessed and resettled, if required. Moreover, the tax rise has been on the basis of assessment, conducted during the former mayor’s tenure, not during the new mayor’s period, they added.