The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday named 141 top taxpayers, including 75 individuals, for the payment of the highest amount of taxes to the state coffer for the year of 2020-21.

The list, however, shows that at least half of them have featured as the top taxpayers for the second running year, with Kaus Mia, a businessman from Old Dhaka, leading the pack.

The nonagenarian, who is well-known for Hakimpuri Zarda, is sitting atop the 60 lakh registered taxpayers in the country.

He has been paying tax since 1958, and the NBR has crowned him with 15 awards over the years, including the recognition as the best taxpayer in the Mujib Borsho. His family was recognised as Kar Bahadur Paribar, or Tax Icon family, in 2016-17.

And 2020-21 is going to be yet another unforgettable year for Mia along with others who have been showing exemplary tax compliance and featuring on the list of the highest taxpayers repeatedly.

Golam Dastagir Gazi, textiles and jute minister, late Latifur Rahman, founder of Transcom Group, and Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder, chairman of Exim Bank, are among the top taxpayers who have retained their positions.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, and HSBC Bangladesh are the top taxpayers, like in the previous year, in the banking category. Brac Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd are the other two banks that have been included in the list.

Three state-run lenders Infrastructure Development Company Ltd, Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Ltd, and Investment Corporation of Bangladesh as well as Delta Brac Housing Finance Corporation became top taxpayers in the non-banking financial institution category.

The NBR started honouring top taxpayers in 2010-11, beginning with the top taxpayers in two categories -- individuals and companies. It aimed to encourage compliance in the country where just over 1 per cent of the population file returns and tax avoidance is believed to be high.

Grameenphone Ltd, the largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh, became the top taxpayer in the telecommunication segment, while Uttara Motors, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Ltd, and Uttara Automobiles in the engineering category.

Nestlé Bangladesh, Olympic Industries Ltd, and Pran Dairy Ltd topped the taxpayers in the food and allied category.

Akij Jute Mills, Ahyan Jute Mills, and IR Khan Jute Mills Ltd were named as the largest taxpayers in the jute industry category, while Coats Bangladesh, Badsha Textiles Ltd and Noman Terry Towel Mills won the accolade in the spinning and textile category.

Unilever Bangladesh, Square Pharmaceuticals, Incepta Pharmaceuticals and Renata Ltd were the largest taxpayers in the medicine and chemistry category.

Universal Jeans, Youngone Hi-Tech Sportswear Industries, Zaber & Zubair Fabrics, Rifat Garments, Square Fashions, GMS Composite Knitting, and Ha-Meem Denim were named as the top taxpayers in the readymade garment category.

Bata Shoe Company (Bangladesh) Ltd, Apex Footwear, and Lalmai Footwear won the honour in the leather industry category.

British American Tobacco Bangladesh, American Life Insurance Company Ltd, Sadharan Bima Corporation, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, Asa, Sena Kalyan Sangstha, and Buro Bangladesh will also be recognised as the top taxpayers. 

The NBR authority is expected to honour the highest taxpayers with cards and crests next week.