Launch grassroots campaigns to increase number of taxpayers: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the National Board of Revenue to launch campaigns at the grassroots level to motivate people to pay tax as the country's socio-economic condition has improved radically in the last 14 years.

"If you carry out campaigns there [upazila and union levels] in a good manner, the people will spontaneously come forward [to pay tax]. They [taxpayers] are now getting services. So, people will pay tax to avail the services," she said while inaugurating the Revenue Conference 2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.

NBR organised the first such two-day conference to develop the country's revenue management system.

The PM said the government wants to expand the tax net, instead of increasing the tax rate in this existing inflation. "We'll have to increase the number of taxpayers," she said.

She said the number of income tax payers is still very low in the country and it is because of a lack of awareness.

"There should be no coercion. People should not be fearful, rather they have to be motivated," she added.

NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem and NBR members Abdul Mannan Shikder and Pradyut Kumar Sarkar spoke on the occasion.

PM opens newly constructed Revenue Bhaban:

The premier today opened the newly constructed Revenue Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area, which will be used as the NBR head office.

She unveiled the name plaque of the 12-storey building and visited the Revenue Bhaban in the morning.