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ePassport project falters after missing deadlines twice
The issuance of ePassport faces further uncertainty as the authorities concerned could not yet fix any fresh date for its launching although they have missed two deadlines earlier.
Super-Performers and Super-Flops of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup
Dhaka, Nov 1 (UNB)- After the 10-day war in the port city of Chattogram, Terengganu FC of Malaysia finally clinched the crown of the third edition of Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup.
Narayanganj struggling to deal with medical wastes
A good number of hospitals in the city keep dumping medical wastes in the open ignoring their consequences on the environment and human health.
Locals alleged the situation has come this far as there is no regulation for proper medical waste management.
Alhough the Ministry of Environment and Forests formulated a draft regulation in 2008, it has not been finalised yet.
According to Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), a total of 101 hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers are operating in the city.
NCC sources said City Corporation and Prism Bangladesh Foundation signed an agreement for proper management of medical wastes. Besides, the NCC directed all the hospitals and clinics to sign contracts with Prism for proper disposal of medical wastes.
Save us from riverbank erosion, plead Manikganj residents
Erosion by the Kaliganga River has taken a turn for the worse making hundreds of people of Bengroi village in the Sadar upazila just paupers.
Payra power plant may take more time to go into operation
As transmission facilities are not ready yet, the newly-constructed first unit of Payra coal-fired power plant is unlikely to go into commercial operation in December next as planned.
Income Tax & Motivation: Weeklong fair set to begin Nov 14
A weeklong income tax fair will begin across the country on November 14, aiming to give the taxpayers a hassle-free environment to submit their tax returns and provide them with one-stop tax-related services.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been organising the annual show for the last 10 years in order to raise awareness about the necessity of tax payment for national development and encourage more people to start the practice.
The last date for the submission of income tax returns for individual taxpayers is November 30, which has been named as ‘Tax Day’.
In the capital, the fair will be held at the Officers' Club.
According to the NBR, the fair will continue till November 20 in divisional headquarters. It will be held in all the district towns for four days while for two days in 45 upazilas and for one day at 57 growth centres at the upazila level.
The NBR organised the tax fair in 32 upazilas for two days last year.
Like the previous years, the taxpayers will be able to file tax returns and do other related tasks at the fair. Tax officials will extend necessary support in this regard.
New taxpayers can collect electronic tax identification numbers (e-TINs) at the fair while other taxpayers can collect e-TIN through re-registration.
Separate booths will be set up at the fair venues for e-payment as well as for freedom fighters, women, people with disabilities and elderly taxpayers.
Last year, the NBR received Tk 2,468 crore at the weeklong fair which was Tk 113 crore in 2010, the maiden year of the fair. The number of tax returns submitted at the fair was 4.87 lakh in 2018 where it was 52,544 in 2010, according to the NBR.
Since its inception, the income tax fair is gaining its popularity as it gives an opportunity to people to submit income tax returns at the quickest possible time without the hassle of visiting tax offices, said an NBR senior official.
"The growing number of taxpayers and income tax-related service-takers show that people are always interested in paying taxes, given a conducive atmosphere," he said.
He said the chance to extend the time to submit the income tax returns through any executive order has been restricted through the national budget. "So, we request all to submit their income tax returns within the timeframe to avoid fine."
To remove hassles in paying taxes, the NBR has simplified the income-tax return form aiming to get a better response from taxpayers as well as bag more revenues.
Instead of the old 8-page form, the taxpayers from this year will fill up a three-page form. Of the three pages, the first page contains personal information, while the second page will be used for the source of income and the third page gives the scope for scrutiny.
According to sources at the NBR, interest will be imposed on the income tax returns that will be submitted after November 30.
“Even the taxpayers who will seek extra time have to give the interest as per 73A rules of the Income Tax Ordinance,” the NBR official said adding as per the rules, the taxpayers have to give two percent interest on his income tax per month.
Currently, the tax-GDP ratio in Bangladesh is just over 10 percent, which is more than 15 percent in neighbouring countries.
"NBR is now a self-reliant organization and steps have been taken to make it a pro-taxpayer one," the NBR official said.
The total revenue collection for the current 2019-20 fiscal has been estimated to be Tk 3,77,810 crore where the NBR will contribute Tk 3,25,660 crore. Tax revenue from the non-NBR sources have been estimated at Tk 14,500 crore. Besides, non-tax revenue is estimated at Tk. 37,710 crore.
Of the grand amount for the NBR, Tk 1,13,912 crore will come from income, profit and capital tax, while Tk 1,23,067 crore will be contributed by VAT.
Besides, Tk 48,153 crore will come supplementary tax while Tk 36,498 crore from import duty, Tk 54 crore from export duty, Tk 2,239 crore from the excise duty and Tk 1,677 crore from other taxes.
Bishwanath shows how gourd could be a good ‘cash crop’!
Farming is not always an easy job for many reasons, but there is nothing hard in growing gourd. The people of Bishwanath upazila are showing how to do it and make money.
This time, the upazila is witnessing bumper production of gourd as the popular vegetable is seen hanging in plenty in the fields maintained by farmers of the area.
Locals said each farmer is said to have made three times their initial investment of Tk 2,000 only. Seeing the better yield, many people from neighbouring areas are taking increased interest in farming the fast-growing creeper.
According to villagers, the demand for gourd is also high due to its chemical-free cultivation.
They said the gourd remains free from poisonous chemicals as farmers use natural fertiliser in large quantity instead of using pesticide or chemical fertiliser in farming gourd.
Chanfur Ali, a farmer of north Daulatpur Hasnarajir village in north Daulatpur union of Bishwanath upazila, said he got success on farming gourd on 8 decimals of land without using insecticide and chemical fertiliser.
After his success, he said, the other farmers of the village became interested to grow gourd. They also started cultivating gourd like Chanufur Ali. Like other vegetables, gourd is now cultivated in most arable lands of the village.
“I’ve started growing gourd on about 8 decimals of land spending about Tk 2,000. So far, I’ve sold gourd worth Tk 10,000. I hope to sell more of about Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000,” said Chanfur.
Abdul Hamid, a resident of Purangaon Konapara village in the upazila, said he was also successful in cultivating the same variety of gourd. He cultivated gourd only on 12 decimals of land. So far, he sold gourd worth about Tk 10,000 and hopes to sell more.
Wab Ali, a gourd farmer of Karikona village in the upazila, said, “No one has to work hard for cultivating gourd. It’s possible to earn Tk 10,000 by investing about Tk 1,000 on five decimals of land.
However, he said, regular nurturing of plants is needed alongside ensuring high-yielding variety of seeds. “After preparing land, a better variety of seeds must be planted. Bumper production of gourd is possible after taking care of it regularly. I’ve become successful in gourd cultivation by applying the method.”
Arosh Ali, a retailer, said, “There’s no poison in the gourd cultivated in the villages of Bishwanath. So, the buyers feel encouraged to buy these gourds.”
Shamim Mia, a buyer, said, “We try to buy gourds from the market which have been cultivated in these villages. The flavour and smell of these gourds are good.”
Ramjan Ali, the local Agriculture Officer, said most of the farmers are gaining success by growing early variety of gourd. Suggestions for cultivating gourd is provided to the farmers from the Agriculture Office, he added.
‘Bangladeshi journalists must remain united, be aware of their rights’
As the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists approaches, concern for the safety of journalists in the challenging profession grows worldwide.
Tale of a bridge that will survive more than 200 years
It took long 10 years to complete the construction of a bridge. And the bridge will remain in good condition for more than 200 years! Sounds unbelievable? That is the story goes for the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Big projects underway to transform tourism sector
Dhaka, Oct 28 (UNB) - The government has taken a number of projects for the development of tourism sector to attract more local and foreign tourists which will ultimately help the country to achieve the much-desired double digit GDP growth.