United News of Bangladesh

Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Saturday said it is difficult to establish good governance in tax management if political will is not reflected properly. “Due to the political will of the current government, decision-making in establishing good governance in tax administration is becoming easier,” he said while speaking at a programme organised by a shadow parliament on tax management reforms at FDC in the capital. The NBR chairman said more tax exemptions are being given than the amount of tax collected. “We have taken the initiative to amend the tax laws.” In this connection, he mentioned that the government will no longer be able to grant tax exemptions at its own choice. “In the national interest, only Parliament can consider the issue of tax exemption through a finance bill,” the NBR chief said. He also acknowledged a collective failure to curb under-invoicing and over-invoicing in import and export activities. NBR Chairman seeks to create business-friendly tax regime “In the current era, the price of a product in any part of the world can be known at the touch of a button.Banks and customs can be sure about the price by checking and verifying this issue while opening a letter of credit,” he said. Abdur Rahman said mispricing in import-export harms compliant businesses and genuine taxpayers, with corruption remaining a major obstacle in the tax system. “Corruption in the tax system can be prevented only by establishing accountability and good governance,” he added. He also said there is no tax education in Bangladesh. Only a couple of subjects are included in higher education. Considering the importance of tax education, it is necessary to include tax in every field of primary, secondary and higher education. Organised by Debate for Democracy, the competition was presided over by its Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday stressed the need for boosting revenue collection and improving activities related to risk-based cargo release, enforcement, compliance with import policy orders, automation, case reduction and recovery of arrears. He made the directive while visiting the Customs House at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kamalapur. During the visit, he inspected key customs operations, including physical examinations at the container yard, export procedures, and the automated customs assessment process in the assessment room, according to an NBR press release. While interacting with officials and staff from various valuation groups, he enquired about any operational challenges and instructed the customs IT wing to promptly resolve ongoing internet and server issues to ensure smooth workflow. Following the inspection, the NBR chairman held a meeting with Customs House officials and stakeholders. NBR launches ‘a-Chalan’ for instant online tax payments He was also briefed on the shortage of cargo trains, which continues to disrupt smooth container transportation, as he mentioned the necessity of modernising and updating the C&F licensing rules to reflect current realities. Later, the NBR chairman formally inaugurated the online tax payment system through A-Challan at the Customs House ICD. The initiative follows a successful pilot launched on April 23, 2025, integrating the A-Challan platform with the ASYCUDA World customs system. This integration allows importers and exporters to pay customs duties and taxes directly from their bank accounts to the government treasury. In June alone, 83 percent of customs revenue at the ICD was collected through A-Challan. Describing customs houses as vital trade facilitation centers, the NBR chairman instructed officials to ensure faster cargo clearance under modern risk management frameworks to support business activities. He assured that officials who perform their duties with honesty, competence, and diligence would receive full support and protection. Expressing satisfaction with the overall operations at the Kamalapur ICD, he urged all stakeholders—including importers, exporters, C&F agents, port authorities, Bangladesh Railway, and customs officials—to work in coordination to ensure uninterrupted and efficient port operations.