The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has not yet taken any decision regarding holding the annual income tax fair this time around amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, said Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem yesterday.

"The government is still cautious about coronavirus. Therefore, no final decision has been taken about the income tax fair. Slowly everything is opening up. If everything returns to normalcy, the fair may be organised," he told a press conference at the NBR headquarters.

The income tax fair usually takes place in November every year to raise awareness and encourage taxpayers to comply with rules.

Last year, the NBR did not hold its annual tax fair to avoid the usual mass gatherings and curb the risk of the spread of coronavirus.

Individual taxpayers had to submit their income tax returns at tax offices last year. At yesterday's event, Muneem also talked about the ratio of tax to gross domestic product (GDP).

There is no reason to be worried about taxes even though it is low, he said, adding that the tax-GDP ratio would have been above 17 per cent if tariff and tax benefits given to facilitate industrialisation and economy had been taken into account.

Bangladesh has one of the lowest tax-GDP ratios in South Asia.

"Taxes in Bhutan, the Maldives, and Nepal come from tourism, but our taxes come from the industries. In this case, we have to consider many things," he said.

However, the NBR aims to generate the highest possible revenue in order to achieve the government's goal to become a middle-income country by 2030 and a developed country by 2041, he said.