DHAKA: National Board of Revenue (NBR) has started collecting Green Tax from various factories, which are liable for environmental pollution. 

Environment department has already sent a list of 2,500 factories to NBR in response to a request of NBR’s Value Added Tax (VAT) wing. 

NBR will issue a gazette notification to pay green tax from the production income of the factories. Beside, the names of those accused factories will be declared in the gazette notification. 

But, concerning people of environment said that the consumers will be affected directly for the surcharge and accused factories would be inspired to continue environmental pollution. 

According to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act 1991 (22) and Subsection 1, the surcharge was added from the current fiscal year on June 30 and will be effected from July 1.

On the other hand, a list is going to be enlisted of responsible institutions including tannery, ceramic, steel, welding, rubber, sweater, food processing, rice, sugar, pesticide, printing, poultry, beverage, hospital, diagnostic centers.  

The government started the surcharge to inspire the factories to start Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). 

NBR First Secretary on VAT Policy Shawkat Hossain told banglanews that directions will be given after checking the lists of factories and actions will be taken to those institutions those who will fail to pay the surcharge. 

Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin General Secretary Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) demanded that the consumers should be applied on factory owners instead of surcharge on products. 

BDST: 1248 HRS, AUG 19, 2014