Want to do something for people before leaving in February: Finance Adviser

The Interim Government’s Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said: “We must leave after next February. Before that, I want to do something for the people of the country.”

He made these remarks on Sunday (14 September) morning while inaugurating the Tax Representative Management System (TRMS) software at the Multipurpose Hall of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The event was presided over by NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said: “I asked the NBR Chairman, will we be able to see the benefits? Because we will have to leave after February. The Chief Adviser often says that we must leave behind some contribution. But from outside, that is often not visible, rather criticisms dominate. Even today I saw in a newspaper that only despair was written about.”

He further said: “We want to do something for the people. Because when the next government takes office, it will take time for them to understand. There is also the matter of goodwill. If within this period we can show even a small ray of hope, that will be a great success.”

Addressing tax lawyers, the Finance Adviser said: “There is still much harassment in the service sector. Ordinary people are made to go through unnecessary hassle. I myself sometimes tell my driver—do not wander around to get a driving licence. People must be freed from such sufferings. People want service, and no one is reluctant to spend for good service.”

Congratulating all for the complete domestic development of the TRMS software, he said: “We have become too accustomed to relying on foreign firms. When they come, they try to sell equipment from their own countries. But when such activities are carried out indigenously, it is ultimately beneficial for the country.”

He added: “This will benefit not only individuals and companies but also tax collectors. The hassle of writing so many papers will reduce. However, in such work due appreciation is often not expressed.”

NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said at the event that from next year corporate tax filing will be made fully mandatory online. A tax app will also be launched within this year. Once tax collection processes are digitalised, audit selection and audit operations will be completed automatically.

Special guests at the event included Advocate Ramiz Uddin Ahmed, President of the Bangladesh Tax Lawyers Association; Mahtab Uddin, President of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB); and M Nasimul Hai, President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh.