Speaking at a seminar held at Paltan Tower in the capital on Thursday, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdul Rahman Khan said, “The current government is business-friendly and sympathetic toward low-income people.”
The government official made these remarks as the chief guest at a seminar on food security and VAT organised by ERF and Youth Policy Network.
Expressing solidarity with Youth Policy Network’s demand for abolishing taxes on essential food items, he acknowledged their demand as justified. However, he noted that reducing or withdrawing VAT becomes quite challenging when the nation is burdened with debt.
Responding to journalists’ questions on VAT, the revenue official stated, “If we want to repay the loans taken in the previous government’s last budget, even if we allocate the entire national revenue to debt repayment, it would still take five years to clear the debt.”
At the seminar, Bangladesh Auto Bread & Biscuit Manufacturers Association President Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan said, “There should be no VAT on essential food items.”
Agreeing with the research team’s demand, he urged the government to reduce VAT on essential food items to a nominal level.
Prothom Alo senior journalist Partho, addressing the issue of VAT imposition, remarked, “Despite many expectations from low-income people in this budget, they remain unfulfilled.”
He urged the current government to show greater compassion toward low-income citizens.
Also present at the seminar were ERF President Doulat Akter Mala, research team leader KM Imrul Hasan, and others.
