DHAKA, Dec 10, 2023 (BSS) - National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem today said they have started automation in the revenue system to facilitate business and tax payers.

"If we want to facilitate business and give benefits to taxpayers, we have to do automation. We have started it," he said while speaking at a function marking the National VAT Day at Revenue Bhaban in the city. 

Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Mahbubul Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion. 

In the function, the NBR honoured nine companies who have paid the highest amount of value-added tax (VAT) in their respective sectors in 2020-21 fiscal year.

The awards were given in manufacturing, trading and services sector categories to encourage businesses to properly deposit the indirect tax paid by the consumers to the state coffer.

Olympic Industries Limited, UniMed UniHealth Pharmaceuticals Ltd, General Pharmaceutical Ltd won the awards in the manufacturing sector.

Walton Plaza, Unimart Ltd and HAMKO Corporation Ltd won the awards in the trading sector.

In his speech, Md Mahbubul Alam urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to ensure a business environment free of harassment.

Expressing the commitment of businessmen to paying VAT, he said, "Businessmen want to pay VATs, but they hesitate when they face harassment by field-level VAT and TAX officials."