Leaders of the of main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party Sylhet city unit on Sunday demanded immediate step of the city corporation authorities to bring down the newly proposed holding tax to a tolerable level that had been increased up to 500 per cent of the existed figures.
Sylhet City Corporation authorities would have to face a dire consequence if the agitated residents took to streets, protesting at the proposed abnormal increased holding tax, they warned.
鈥榃e are not against the holding tax,鈥� they said, adding, 鈥楤ut it should be increased to a reasonable proportion鈥�.
BNP leaders made the comments, while addressing a rally during a human chain in front of central Shaheed Minar at Chowhatta in the city, protesting against recent increased holding tax at abnormal rate by the city corporation.
They alleged that the incumbent dummy government was not elected by the people鈥檚 vote. So, they had no responsibility to the countrymen.
鈥楢wami League leaders have been destroying the economy by smuggling thousands of Taka out of the country through their unabated corruption and looting,鈥� they continued.
Though, they were unable to supply sufficient electricity and gas, the government had increased the prices of the amenities in phases, adding unbearable burden to the common people of the country.
BNP鈥檚 Sylhet city unit president Nasim Hussain, its general secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, organising secretary Syed Shafek Mahbub Chowdhury, the party鈥檚 youth front Juba Dal鈥檚 city unit president Newaz Bakth Tarek and Swechchhasebak Dal city unit convener Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury, among others, addressed the rally.
A huge numbers of activists and leaders of Sylhet city BNP and its front organisations from 42 wards of the city attended the human chain.
Meanwhile, SCC mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury said that the holding tax would be determined at a tolerable level through discussions with civil society representatives and city councillors.
He came up with the announcement, while addressing an urgent press conference at Nagar Bhaban in the afternoon.
鈥楢 decision has already been taken to form review boards in each of the 27 old wards to reassess the stipulated holding tax. Besides, the assessment committees of the newly formed 15 wards of the city have been dissolved,鈥� he added in the conference.