If a person is seriously ill and millions of taka goes into hospital bills and treatment, then why shouldn’t the person get tax exemption?
I am 91 years and six months old. I have been suffering from various illnesses since 2015. In March of that year, I underwent a hip bone replacement.
I could not take out the money of the Shonchoy Patra of the Bangladesh Post Office as the tenure had not yet been over. Finally, I took a loan of Tk6 lakh and paid the hospital expenses.
I still suffer from several illnesses. Last October in 2019, I was admitted to the hospital for a month with a serious illness due to the infection of the parotid gland and was close to death. I don’t have any recollection of that month.
I was told by doctors later that, for a month, I was mostly unconscious and had to be given oxygen supply regularly to breathe normally. After recovery and returning home, I was infected once more and was admitted to the hospital for a month in December again.
However, I was conscious. This time, I spent several lakh taka from my limited savings for my treatment again.
I think the seriousness of a person’s illness should be considered within the law for tax exemption. I have already paid my due taxes.
But now, my medical expenses are rising so high that the tax burden is creating more financial pressure. I have called the National Board of Revenue office several times in the last few months. Each person forwards the call to someone else.
This has been going on for a while. Finally, one of them explained to me that, by law, tax exemption only applies to an organization or national body.
I’m still bedridden. With the constant need for medications and medical checkups, my medical costs are always on the rise.
It is almost impossible for me to bear these expenses at this age. Some might think that I have two sons, and they can afford to pay for the extra medical care. But, no, I don’t want that.
I don’t want to put this burden on my sons, even if they want me to. There may be laws, but laws can be amended.
Now the National Board of Revenue should consider whether they really need to take individual taxes from people who are very sick.
Lily Chowdhury is a former drama artist and is wife of Shaheed Professor Munier Chowdhury.
