East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL), a concern of the country’s leading business conglomerate Bashundhara Group, has been honoured once again as the top taxpayer in print and electronic media category.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday handed over the tax card to 141 highest tax-paying individuals and companies for their outstanding contribution to the national exchequer in 2019-20 fiscal.
The EWMGL owns English newspaper the Daily Sun, Bengali dailies Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho, television channels NEWS24 and T-Sports, Radio Capital 94.8 FM and online news portal Banglanews24.com.
NBR honoured the individual and corporate taxpayers with tax cards, crests and certificates at a ceremony held at NBR Bhaban in the capital.
Considering the safety precautions amid the coronavirus situation, NBR has distributed tax cards among five individuals and five companies at the programme.
The rest will receive their awards from the respective zones.
Abdul Mannan, Deputy General Manager (accounts) of EWMGL, received the award from tax card from tax zone-5 commissioner Shoaeb Ahmed.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal virtually attended the function as the chief guest. State Minister for Public Administration Affairs’ Ministry Farhad Hossain was present on the occasion. NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem presided over the function.
Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said: "The people of the country want to pay taxes. But we can't collect them. We have to collect them. We are getting direct taxes more than indirect taxes. We need to take action to get more taxes. We need to make the tax collection system easier. We want everyone to be able to pay their taxes online. If we go to digital system, we will get more taxes."
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said: "Tk 73,420 crore was collected as income tax in the fiscal year 2019-20, which is 34 percent of the total revenue collected. The government has set a target of raising revenue of Tk 3,30,000 crore in the current financial year. Out of the target, Tk 1,05,465 crore will come from income tax. We can see the growing interest of the people in paying taxes. For this, tax payment services have been made easier. I hope this target will be achieved this year with the help of the NBR."
There are five categories of special tax recipients at the individual level. They are- Senior Citizen, Gazetted War Wounded Freedom Fighters, Disabled, Women and Youth categories.
Also, there are 13 categories among individual taxpayers based on their profession. These include: businessmen, salaried people, doctors, journalists, lawyers, engineers, architects, accountants, new taxpayers, players, actors-actresses, artists (singers) and others.
BDST: 2022 HRS, FEB 11, 2021
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