Govt honours top taxpayers

The government today honoured 76 individual highest taxpayers, including Transcom Group Chairman Shahnaz Rahman, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, and Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, for depositing the highest amount of taxes to the state coffer in 2021-22 fiscal year.

Shahnaz Rahman, wife of late Latifur Rahman, former chairman of Transcom Group, got the award as one of the top taxpayers in female category from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Transcom Group Chairman Shahnaz Rahman

The tax authority awarded Shahnaz with the same status several times previously for paying the highest amount of tax.

At the Officers' Club in Dhaka today, the NBR also honoured Mahfuz Anam and Matiur Rahman as top taxpayers in the journalist category.

It is the seventh consecutive year for both of them to be awarded with crests and tax cards for payment of highest amount of tax to the state exchequer.

Apart from individuals, the tax collector recognised 53 companies and 12 other organisations as largest taxpaying entities in the fiscal year 2021-22.

This includes Mediastar, the parent company of Bangla daily Prothom Alo. The firm, a sister concern of Transcom Group, got accolade for the seventh year in a row in the print and electronic media category.

Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman received the tax card on behalf of Mediastar from NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem at the event.

While Md Kamrul Hassan, chief financial officer of Transcom Limited, received the tax card on behalf of Shahnaz Rahman.

While ASM Nazrul Islam, head of corporate affairs and tax of The Daily Star, received the tax card on behalf of Mahfuz Anam.

ASM Nazrul Islam, head of corporate affairs and tax of The Daily Star, receives the top taxpayer card on behalf of The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, given by the National Board of Revenue at the Officers' Club in Dhaka today. Photo: Collected

Separately, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) awarded 525 highest and longest time taxpayers at the district and city corporation levels.

"I really feel honoured," said Dr Pran Gopal Datta, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, after receiving the crest and tax card for being the top taxpayer among doctors in the fiscal year 2021-22.

He started paying tax in 1983.

"I think it's a moral responsibility to pay taxes," he said at the event, where Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal was present.

He said the tax authority should explain the benefits of tax payment to bring all eligible people under the tax net.

Only then, they will feel encouraged to pay taxes, he said.

Port city's top taxpayers

The Chattogram Income Tax Department today honoured 42 best taxpayers of Chattogram City Corporation area and five districts of Chattogram division, including Chattogram, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar.

Chattogram's top taxpayers pose for photographs at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall of Agrabad World Trade Center in the port city. Photo: Collected

They were honoured in four categories – highest taxpayer, long time taxpayer, female highest taxpayer and young male highest taxpayer under the age of 40.

The certificate of honour was given to the best taxpayers at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall of Agrabad World Trade Center in the port city, reports our correspondent in Chattogram.

The 42 taxpayers of Chattogram were given the Best Taxpayer Award. Of them, 12 are long-term highest taxpayers, 18 highest taxpayers, 6 highest female taxpayers and 6 highest young male taxpayers.

Anwarul Azim Chowdhury, the best tax payer of Cox's Bazar district, have been paying taxes regularly since 1983.

Fazlul Haque of Patharghata and Mridul Barua of KC Dey Road were honoured in Chattogram City Corporation area in the category of long-time taxpayers.

Alihussain Akberali, chairman of BSRM; Mohammad Nader Khan, head of Pedrolo Group, and Abu Mohammad of East Nasirabad were honored in the highest taxpayer category.