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Tk 277,582cr development allocation is inspiring to move forward the country

ICAB leaders tell post-budget briefing


Published : 03 Jun 2023 10:01 PM

Despite Russia-Ukraine War, high inflation, rising commodity prices, dollar crisis, slowdown in business investment and employment, and other global uncertainties, government has taken a challenge of implementing development budget of Taka 277,582 crore which is very encouraging step to move forward for a developing country like ours.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), a leading professional body of the country, made the remarks in its post-budget press conference, held at the CA Bhaban, Karwanbazar in the capital on Saturday.  

"We congratulate the government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the announcement of 16th consecutive budget for the FY 2023-24," said the ICAB President Md Monirujjaman FCA while addressing the press conference.

ICAB Taxation and Corporate Laws Chairman Md. Humayun Kabir FCA moderated the press conference while Snehashish Basu FCA presented an analysis on the budget on the occasion. 

CEO of ICAB, former Secretary of the Government Shubhashis Bosu Council Member, Maria Hawlader FCA, MBM Lutful Hadi FCA, Yeasin Mia FCA, Mahbub Ahmed Siddiqui FCA, Momena Hossain Rupa FCA also spoke on the occasion among others. 

ICAB noted that an additional budget in the infrastructure sector is a commendable step taken by the government, mentioning that expanding the tax net is badly needed under the current situation for enhancing the tax GDP ratio.

"Government should take further steps to expand the tax net. We believe that the joint initiative of NBR and ICAB in implementing Document Verification System (DVS) will facilitate to achieve the targeted revenue. We thank Ministry of Finance (specially finance division & internal resources division) for appreciating the implementation of DVS under the joint initiative of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the ICAB and for stating that the system is successfully running to verify the accuracy of audited accounts submitted by the taxpayers," it said.

The ICAB thanked finance minister for recognizing the fact that the DVS initiative has increased authenticity and transparency in income shown by the taxpayer company.

ICAB welcomed the following recommendations in Income Tax Laws:

"Introduction of environment surcharge which is expected to protect our environment, reduce hectic traffic congestion etc. We appreciate the imposition of various cc or kilowatt-based environmental surcharges on multiple vehicles".

ICAB appreciated the following changes in the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act:

 With a view to 'easing of doing business', "market place" is included in the definition of "online sale of goods ".

To support manufacturing of import substitute products and to reduce tax burden at the local manufacturing stage VAT exemption in excess of 5% at the production stage on "optical fiber cable" is proposed.