The 86-year-old Dhaka businessman, who started out in the 1950s with only Tk2,500 in Chandpur, has topped the latest list released by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on October 31.
This is not the first time that Kaus Mia, from circle 27 of income tax zone -2, Dhaka, has gained such recognition. He has now been on the list of highest taxpayers nine times and has received a long-time taxpayer award from the NBR.
"I started paying taxes 12 years before Bangladesh was born in 1971. After Independence, I opened a tax file in Dhaka. I believe my duty is to obey the rules of the country,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
Kaus now has different business ventures, including the manufacture of a brand of chewing tobacco - Hakimpuri Jarda. He urged the NBR not to depend only on the current taxpayers, but to bring in other eligible individuals into the tax net as well.
“People fear that once they are registered as taxpayers, they will have to pay all sorts of tax imposed by the government," he said.
Kaus was awarded for being highest taxpayer under individual category in FY2014-15, the second highest taxpayer in FY2013-14 and fifth highest taxpayer in FY2012-13 at national level.
This year, the NBR recognised one hundred taxpayers in each category of young, female, and combined on the basis of their income tax statements and tax payment figures as paid in 2015-16 fiscal.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
