Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) do not want Rapid Action Battalion, the elite force of Bangladesh Police, be involved in collection process of value added tax.
Referring to recent newspaper reports on the issue, the MCCI leaders opposed any such plan as they placed “An Action Plan for Boasting Trade, Investment and Export” before Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday. Finance minister, however, said he was ignorant of the plan.
“It’s a dangerous plan,” said MCCI Vice-President Akter Matin Chaudhury. “We oppose the plan of bringing back Rab in tax collection.” He said reports revealing such plan had already been published in the newspapers. The MCCI delegation was led by President Nasim Manzur.
MCCI member and chairman of ACI Ltd, M Anis Ud Dowla said: “This is unfortunate that the government is trying to involve Rab in the Vat collection process. The attempt should be stopped.”
According to newspaper reports, the Rab recently made a proposal to National Board of Revenue of launching drive against tax dodgers through mobile courts. As per the proposal, the drive can help to prevent tax evasions and accelerate revenue collection.
In a written proposal to the NBR chairman, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed proposed including the Vat Act 1991 in the schedule of the Mobile Court Act 2009 so that the executive magistrates could conduct drive against tax dodgers.
Rab also sent a copy of the proposal to home ministry under which the Mobile Court Act is implemented.
The proposal signed by Benazir Ahmed also cited that the mobile court concept already received much praise from different sections of people because of its success in preventing various crimes in the society.