Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday said that deputy commissioners had been directed to help the National Board of Revenue identify taxpayers outside Dhaka and Chattogram.
鈥榃e need to expand the direct tax net base,鈥� said the finance adviser while attending the ongoing annual conference of the deputy commissioners in the capital Dhaka.
Upon a request from the DCs, the finance adviser said that they would devise mechanism to bring incomes of physicians and lawyers from private practice to official records.
Besides, many businesses in and outside Dhaka and Chattogram are running economic activities without paying tax, he said, adding that the number of value-added tax identification number was much lower than the number of business establishments in the country.
Out of 50 to 60 lakh business establishments, only about five lakh pay tax, said the finance adviser.
Salehuddin said that the DCs had also been asked to assist in implementing development projects in rural areas since the employment generation was a major priority of the interim government that assumed power after the ouster of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024 amid a mass uprising.
He said that it was easy to create employment opportunity in rural areas through infrastructure development than in urban areas.
Referring to the availability of products at Walmart stores in the United States from Chinese rural areas, the finance adviser said that Bangladesh鈥檚 rural areas were lagging behind in establishing such a linkage.
He also said that the DCs had requested for improving communication and transportation facilities in the remote and inaccessible places.
They have also asked for improving education facilities in those areas, he said.
For removing barriers to the extension of loan facilities to small and medium entrepreneurs, the finance adviser suggested that the DCs include bankers in the fact-finding measures.
He also suggested that the DCs become proactive to ensure services to people.