India wants early work on Ashuganj-Akhaura road

Anis Alamgir
India is in a hurry to see that Bangladesh starts renovation and development works on Ashuganj-Akhaura road by the end of this monsoon, so that it can send some heavy consignments of power generation equipment to Tripura by early November.The Indian buck-up came in a recent joint meeting attended by officials from Bangladesh and India in Dhaka.
"We need the help from all departments concerned of Bangladesh government, so that we can transfer ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) from Kolkata port to Ashuganj by waterway and from there to Pallatana in Tripura state through Ashuganj-Akhaura road for setting up a 726MW power plant," Manash Saha, one of representatives of the India government told the meeting.
Bangladesh also went by the Indian wish, and the joint meeting asked the departments concerned to start development and reconstruction works of Ashuganj-Akhaura road immediately, so that it can carry 93 heavy consignments for India after the rainy season.

However, experts feel that it was easier said than done. "Completion of work on the said road may not happen so soon, as lots of work is still pending. Along with development of Ashuganj port, a huge amount of land will be required for making the road straight and wider. Lots of bridges and culverts have to be made or renovated for carrying heavy cargo loads," they said.The Bangladesh-India joint communiqué signed in January said that India would make the necessary investment for the purpose of ODCs' transfer. It also mentioned, "Contractors from both countries shall be eligible for the work."A foreign ministry official told The Independent that to date, there was no estimate how much money would be spent for to facilitate the transfer the ODCs.However, in a meeting on sub regional cooperation, presided by Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman in June, the estimated cost was put at Tk 25.50 crore to develop the route for transfer of the goods for power plant. The amount, however, excluded the expense of land requisitions.
In the joint meeting, the Indian representatives also stressed on the need to construct a jetty at Ashuganj.
The joint meeting also asked the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to ensure navigability of the river route from Bangladesh's border point Angtihara (Khulna) to Ashuganj and the altitude of bridges over the rivers on the way.
The meeting also asked Brahmanbaria district authority to take some measures during the ODCs' movement period, like stopping traffic movement and arranging security for the safety of ODCs. The meeting also asked Brahmanbaria district authorities to create conducive atmosphere by seeking help from the local people on the movement of ODCs.
They have also been asked to arrange watering in 16 different points of the road as the area might face water-logging due to 16 compacted earth bypasses to be made on the way to block the water-flow of the rivers and cannels passing the way.
After transferring the ODCs through the route, eventually the route would be used for transit to India, as Bangladesh has declared Ashuganj as the new transshipment point between the two countries on May 31.

published on 30 july 2010: The Independent

Pay taxes honestly to get VIP treatment!

Anis Alamgir

For the first time, the government has decided to honour 10 individuals and 10 organisations as 'honest taxpayers' by presenting them with 'Honest Tax Cards', which will give them priority access to a number of government organisations and fetch invitation for the state programmes. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has directed the National Board of Revenue to find out honest taxpayers, who are not only paying big amounts as taxes but paying them regularly and without whitening their black money. The Honest Tax Card holders will be honoured on 15th September 2010, the National Tax Day. "To create a tax-friendly environment and encourage the taxpayers, we are going to introduce this Honest Tax Card for those with a good track record on tax payment. A committee is working on it to select the nominees who will be ultimately endorsed by the Cabinet," said Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Dr Nasir Uddin Ahmed. NBR sources said in his budget speech last time, the finance minister had announced to honour the 'real and honest taxpayers' in this fashion. According to the NBR, the Honest Tax Card holders will be able to get tickets of national airlines, buses and trains on priority basis. They will also be treated as VIPs like other VIPs and will get invitation for national programmes. Prior to introducing this tax card, the government also introduced 'Best Taxpayer of the Year' scheme since the fiscal 2007-2008 at district and city levels. It caught the attention of the taxpayers. Under this scheme, the government has been honouring three persons from one district - two for paying taxes over a reasonable period of time and one for paying highest tax in that particular area. Also, the government decided to honour 10 non-resident Bangladeshis, along with 81 businessmen and industrialists, as Commercially Important Persons (CIP) for their contribution to the economic development of the country starting current fiscal. published on July 27, 2010; The Independent

Refiners want sugar prices fixed

ANIS ALAMGIR

Despite slashing down of import tariff on raw and refined sugar, the Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association has stepped up their demands. In a letter to the Commerce Minister Faruk Khan the Association has said that the Government fix the price of sugar at Tk 50. The Sugar Refiners' Association claims that if this did not happen they would end up running huge losses. Just recently the Government initiated a series of measures to control sugar prices in view of approaching Ramzan. This included withdrawal of import tax on raw sugar and slashing import tax by half for refined sugar - from the existing Tk four thousand to Tk two thousand per MT from July 1, 2010. The Refiners association claims that the sugar prices in the International market are high. "We are buying per tonne crude sugar at the cost of $530 from international market, it is impossible to sell per KG refine sugar under taka 45 even at the mill gate" according to letter written to the Commerce minister by the Association. The letter added, in that case retail price would stand at Tk 48-50 per KG. But The Government's decision itself has been questioned by market watchers. A similar policy measure had been taken last year by the Commerce Minister Faruk Khan whereby sugar prices had been for the whole sale and retail markets. But it failed to arrest the spiraling sugar prices. Even this year sugar prices are rising despite the Government's initiative. Last week sugar was selling at Tk 42 a KG. Now it is selling at the rate of Tk 45 per KG. Market analysts say this could rise further as Ramzan approaches if the Government did not intervene. NBR statistics indicate large scale sugar hoarding. Figures show that in the last fiscal sugar imported in the country till May was more then four times higher than previous fiscal. The country had imported 12.73 lakh MT sugar during 11 months of last fiscal, out of which 11.50 lakh MT sugar were raw and the rest were refined. NBR statistics also says, during previous financial year (2008-2009) it was only 2.70 lakh, raw and refined sugar taken together. No one from the Sugar Refiners Association was available for comment. But the General Secretary of the city's Moulovi Bazar Traders Association Abul Hashem, blames the sugar refiners for artificially keeping the prices high. It is they he alleges who are sitting on stocks of sugar causing price rise. He foresees a further rise in sugar prices with Ramzan approaching unless, the Government, can introduce a strong supply chain" he adds.

Dhaka ready to join Kabul’s reconstruction work

ANIS ALAMGIR

Bangladesh would like to join the international community in Afghanistan’s reconstruction process by attending an ‘International Conference on Afghanistan’ in Kabul on July 20.

The government of Afghanistan has invited representatives of more than 70 countries, international and regional organisations and financial institutions to deliberate and endorse an Afghan government-led plan for improved development, governance, and stability.

Foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni is likely to represent Bangladesh in the conference, the first of its kind in Kabul. She is scheduled to leave Dhaka today for the conference. The Afghan government has taken several security measures, including restriction on flight movement on the conference day. But till last evening her departure time was not fixed.

However, director general of South Asia of the foreign ministry Mohammad Imran will leave Dhaka this morning to attend the conference. If Moni attends the conference, this will be the first high level visit of the Bangladeshi delegation to Afghanistan after war against terror began in 2001.

Though Bangladesh in principle was against the Afghan war in 2001, Dhaka had given refuelling permission to US war planes. However, ultimately it was not required. Bangladesh had also refused the US request to send armed forces to Afghanistan saying it only sends troops to other countries as UN peacekeeping force.

Nine years since the start of its renewed partnership with the international community, Afghanistan stands at a critical turning point in its efforts to achieve long-term peace, security, and stability. Last January, Afghanistan and its international partners gathered in London to reaffirm their commitment to achieving lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the country.

Tomorrow’s conference in Kabul will be opened by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and co-chaired by Afghan Foreign Minister Rassoul and UN Special Representative Staffan de Mistura.

Foreign ministry officials believe that Bangladesh can offer skilled manpower like doctors, engineers, teachers, bankers, labourers and other professionals as required by Kabul for the development of the SAARC member state.

“We are also ready to help them to improve their governance skill, training for civil servants, and activities of social advancement”, said an official.

Two nuclear powered nations in South Asia- India and Pakistan- are also keen to involve themselves in development activities of war-torn Afghanistan. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will also attend the conference along with other world leaders.

The US secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, will also attend the international conference in Kabul, where the Afghan government is expected to outline plans to bolster security conditions, reintegrate militants into society and crack down on corruption.

Movement of trucks to land ports: Bangladesh set to strike better deal with India

ANIS ALAMGIR

Bangladesh and India are all set to work out a formula to allow entry to their trucks carrying export-import goods to each other's territories via different land ports. At present, trucks of the two countries are allowed by only a few land ports to go across the border for unloading goods, solely through mutual understanding. Official sources said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on behalf of the Bangladesh government, while India has already handed over a draft of SOP to Dhaka. According to NBR sources, they are also preparing a separate SOP for giving access to Nepali trucks to Bangladesh territory through Fulbari-Banglabandha (Panchaghar) border point. Currently, Bangladeshi trucks are not allowed to enter Nepal through this point, as they have to cross the Indian corridor. Same is the case with Bangladesh-bound Nepali trucks. Last week, commerce secretaries of Bangladesh and Nepal met in Dhaka and deliberated on trade and transit issues. It was agreed that the Nepalese trucks will be allowed into Bangladesh territory to reach the Mongla Port, and Bangladesh will not charge any entry fees on the Nepalese cargo. However, Bangladesh will be entitled get port fees, labour wages, etc. The other key points of discussion were full-fledged operation of the Kakarbhitta-Panitanki-Phulbari-Banglabandha corridor running through Nepal, India and Bangladesh, and allowing Nepalese trucks into Banglabandha land port. Bangladesh is also willing to make a separate SOP to make way for Bhutanese trucks, though at present, they are entering Bangladesh via Bhurimari (Lalmonirhat) of the Bangladesh-India border without interference from the Indian side. In a recent inter-ministerial meeting, officers from various departments, including the Foreign Ministry, NBR and the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) or Bangladesh Sthala Bandar Kartripaksha, discussed the present situation of land ports boarding with India and Myanmar. Sources said the representative of BLPA informed the meeting that currently, the BLPA is operating only Benapole (Jessore) land port with its own management. The land ports of Sonamasjid (Chapai Nawabgonj), Hilli (Dinajpur), Teknaf (Cox's Bazar), Bibirbazaar (Comilla), Bhurimari (Lalmonirhat), Tamabil (Sylhet), Akhaura (Bhahmanbaria) and Bhomra (Satkhira) are running on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. The BLPA has also allowed operation of Banglabandha (Panchaghar) and Biral (Dinajpur) land ports on the BOT basis, but they are yet to become fully operational. The meeting was informed that the government has declared Haluaghat (Mymensingh) as land port, but the NBR has still not declared the port as a custom station. On the other hand, the NBR has declared Ramgar and Tegamukh as LC stations, but still these stations do not have the status of a land port. Traders of Bangladesh and India had been using Darshana of Chuadanga land port for export-import since long. But since it has only rail connection, the development activities of Darshana port was stopped. The government is now thinking to declare the nearby Jiban Nagar custom station as the alternate land port. The government has also taken initiative to build infrastructure at Gobdakura and Karoitali LC stations and Bilonia (Feni), which was recently declared as a land port. The government is also preparing a study report to evaluate which goods were being exported and in what quantity from each land port of Bangladesh. The study will also focus on the condition of infrastructure of the Bangladesh and Indian land ports and the status of communication mechanism there. The Independent on 18-7-10

Ten NRBs among 81 businessmen in new CIP list

ANIS ALAMGIR

For the first time the government is going to honour ten Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRB) along with 81 businessmen and industrialists as Commercially Important Person (CIP) for their contribution to the economic development of the country in 2009. Very recently cabinet division circulated the new CIP list among departments concerned which will be officially declared after approval of the Prime Minister. New CIPs will enjoy various facilities declared by the government for one year. This year government selected 10 persons from expatriates' category for their role in sending at least US $ 500,000 remittance to Bangladesh through legal channels. Among 91 new CIPs, 32 persons were selected from business category, and 49 from export category. This year no one has been selected from import category due to non-fulfilment of the conditions set by the government, official said. Sources said, the government has also dropped the name of some businessmen and Industrialists proposed by the ministries concerned for CIP list as the persons were found to have defaulted on bank loan, tax and bill payments. The persons who has been selected as CIP from non-resident category were: Dr M G Moula Mia (living in UK) of Moulvi Bazar, Nazim Abedin Chowdhury (USA) of Dhaka, Golam Kabir Bhuiyan (Oman) of Dhaka, Hedayet Ullah (Oman) of Dhaka, Mohammad Ali (UAE) of Chittagong, Mir Salim Uddin (UAE) of Chittagong, Liaqat Ali (Qatar) of Dhaka, Kazi Sarwar Habib (Japan) of Dhaka, M N Alam (UAE) of Chittagong and Abdul Halim (UK) of Dhaka. Those listed from business group included AmChem president Aftabul Islam, former FBCCI president Annisul Huque, former vice president Abu Alam Chowdhury, BCI president Shahedul Islam, BTMA president Abdul Hai Sarkar and BKMEA president Fazlul Huque. New CIP from export category included chairman of F R Jute mills Sharif Fazur Rahman, chairman HRC syndicate Sayed Hossain Chowdhury, chairman Sinha industries Anisur Rahman Sinha, MD of agricultural marketing major general( retd) Amzad khan Chowdhury and CEO of Beximco Pharma Nazmul Hasan, MD of Sharif Melamine Razzab Sharif, chairman KDS group Khalilur Rahman, Director Bengal Plastic Jashim Uddin, MD of Munnu Ceramic Begum Afroza Khan, and chairman GK group Jahagir Alam Khan. 6-7-2010 the independent

Sugar price cut keeping Ramzan in mind

ANIS ALAMGIR

To keep the sugar price stable in the local market during the coming Ramzan month, the government has withdrawn import tax on raw sugar and cut half of the import tax for refined sugar from the existing Tk four thousand to two thousand per MT. According to the new order, businessmen can import sugar till September 15, 2010 under the new import tax. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) had issued an order in this regard on July 5 which will be applicable from July 1, 2010. Earlier, on June 29, in his concluding speech on the budget in the parliament, finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit gave the assurance that he would take the initiative to cut the import duty of sugar during the period of Ramzan. Officials of the NBR hoped that the sugar price would be durable during Ramzan time for the new tax fixation on sugar. They were hopeful that the people would benefit from this decision directly or indirectly. On the other hand, talking to The Independent, the president of the Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association, Fazlur Rahman, said that sugar price has been stable for a long time. He viewed that the price of sugar in the local market would be stable or instable depending upon both government decisions and the international market. He said that the purchase cost of sugar available in the local market was higher than in the current international market. "When we imported it was US $ 720 per tonne and now it is US $ 500 per tonne in the foreign market," he said. NBR sources said that till March this year, the country has imported 11.50 lakh MT sugar, out of which 10.50 lakh MT were raw and the rest were refined. 7-7-2010 the independent

June sees rush to make black money white

ANIS ALAMGIR

Close to 2,000 people converted Tk 922-crore black money into white in the fiscal 2009-2010 using the option offered by the government for whitening undisclosed money. In the process, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) earned Tk 121 crore during the period - Tk 19 crore higher than the earning in the fiscal 2008-2009. NBR sources said capital market was one of the main devices to whiten black money, as it saw Tk 426-crore investment. Not less than 296 people invested money in the capital market, which earned the NBR Tk 42 crore by way of tax on their investments. Talking to The Independent, an official of the NBR said that the first 11 months of the last financial did not see much of black money conversion into white. "Only 181 people availed of the option to make their money white till May 2010. But as many as 1,743 people chose to use the option in the month of June, the last month of the fiscal," the official added wishing not to be named. He said that the people went for the government option to make their money white also perhaps because they believed that they would not get this chance a second time in the future. The next sector to witness heavy investment was housing, according to the NBR data, which suggests that 1,320 people invested money in the housing sector, which earned the government Tk 28 crore through taxes. However, the final figure for investment in the housing sector is still being worked upon. Third-highest investment by the undisclosed money holders was made in the new industries segment. A total of 162 people invested Tk 239 crore here, earning the government Tk 23.90 crore. The renovation of industries invited fourth highest investment. In all, 145 tried their luck in this sector by investing Tk 257 crore, which fetched the government Tk 25-crore revenue. In the current fiscal, however, the government has not kept the option open for whitening undisclosed money through buying land, flats or investing in the capital market. But the black money holders still have the option to whiten their money by making investments in big infrastructure development activities in the country. 7-7-2010 the independent

Outgoing Tax Ombudsman demands more teeth

ANIS ALAMGIR

The country's first ever Tax-Ombudsman Khairuzzaman Chowdhury retires today - exactly four years after he assumed office. It is however not clear who will succeed him. Official sources say at least two or three names are doing the rounds for the post of the next Tax Ombudsman. Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office and former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abdul Karim, and former Advisor (Indirect Tax) of the Tax Ombudsman's office Dr Rashid ul Ahsan Chowdhury are in the race. Abdul Karim is presently the principal secretary in the PMO working on a contract with the Government. Rashid ul Ahsan Chowdhury has just retired last week from the Office of the Tax-Ombudsman. Advisor (direct Tax) of the Tax Ombudsman office A S Zahir' is also in the fray. He will be retiring in October 2010. The Ombudsman Act 2005, stipulates that the Government appoints someone with at least 20 years experience in the field of direct or indirect taxation. The post has the same status as the Justice of higher court. Meanwhile talking to The Independent yesterday, Khairuzzaman Chowdhury has expressed his displeasure with the way his succession has been handled by the Government. "We have not succeeded fully in rooting out corruption and improving the transparency in the tax departments", he added. The Tax Ombudsman Act, 2005 came into force on 12th July 2005. The Tax Ombudsman officially started functioning from 9th July, 2006. The aim of the office is to identify major causes of maladministration and recommend appropriate steps to the National Board of Revenue for eradication of such malpractices. But in the last four years of its functioning there have been very few complaints lodged with the Ombudsman. The outgoing Ombudsman Khairuzzaman has blamed the weak legal framework provided to his office which makes it very difficult for him to prosecute complaints. The Ombudsman claimed that he had tried his best to make the law appropriate but government has paid no heed to it. Infact no less then the Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit has suggested that the office of Ombudsman be abolished, though this year the Ombudsman's office has got a decent budgetary allocation. The Ombudsman says if the NBR was willing to cooperate, the office of Ombudsman could become effective. Khairuzzaman Chowdhury is however hopeful that the government will eventually initiate measures make the office effective for the benefit of the common people. the independent on 8th July 2010