The VAT audit intelligence and investigation directorate under the National Board of Revenue has started drives against the VAT evading companies.
The first phase of the drives has already been completed, which was conducted on October 8-15 in Dhaka city.
During the drives, the vehicles carrying goods of the companies were stopped on streets and checked if they had any VAT payment receipts or challans.
The directorate has taken up the initiative as VAT evasion by the manufacturing companies has become a common phenomenon in the country, officials said.
The directorate is conducting such type of drives for the first time after getting mandate in the budget passed for fiscal year 2015-16.
The VAT Act 1991 was amended as a budgetary measure in the fiscal year to empower the directorate so it could take a hard line against the VAT evaders.
Officials said the drives would continue on regular basis in different parts of the country under anti-VAT evasion steps by the NBR.
During drives on Dhaka streets, the officials found VAT evasions of Tk4.66 lakh by a number of manufacturing firms and goods, which were being transported on nine lorries, were seized on charge of VAT evasion.
Of the nine lorries, eight did not have any VAT challans while the remaining one possesses a duplicate challan.
The goods included cement, furniture, ice cream, ceiling fan, cycle parts, thermosetting molding compound power and HDP coil pipe.
According to the law, a vehicle transporting products from factories to distributors or to wholesalers must have to carry VAT payment receipts known as VAT challan as a proof of VAT payment.
Currently, there is a 4% VAT applicable at manufacturing stage.
The directorate officials also said they raided some big and luxury shopping malls, luxury tailoring shops and motor parts shops in the capital to identify the VAT dodging shopkeepers.
The result was frustrating as only around 10% shop owners were found paying VAT properly, officials said.