RANGPUR, March 8, 2022 (BSS) - Senior Secretary of the Internal Resources

Division and Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abu Hena Md.
Rahmatul Muneem has said the government has taken massive steps to bring
about industrial revolution in Rangpur region.

   "The government's job is not to set up industries, but to create a
conducive environment for establishing industries. The NBR is working
tirelessly to create business-friendly and industrialization-friendly
environments in the region," he said.

   Muneem was addressing a pre-budget (2022-2023 FY) discussion with leaders
of nine District Chambers of Rangpur division organized by Rangpur Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh
here this evening as the chief guest.

   President of RCCI Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu presided over the
discussion and delivered a welcome speech citing various problems being faced
by traders, industrialists and investors of Rangpur division and forwarded
suggestions to resolve those.

   Presidents, Senior-Vice-presidents and Directors of nine chambers of
Rangpur division and industrialists, civil society members attended and
addressed the event raising issues in the fields of trade and
industrialization with suggestions to resolve those by the NBR.

   The RCCI President forwarded suggestions for a separate industrial-VAT-
tax-loan policy and extension of tax holiday for industrially backward
Rangpur division, reduction of corporate tax to encourage investment,
reduction of import duty on scrap ships in the interest of stabilizing prices
of iron ore products including rods and withdrawal of advance tax.

   He asked for strengthening commercial and diplomatic activities to fetch
international markets for local industrial products, reducing supplementary
duties, giving priority to agriculture and fixing fines at Taka 500 for
failing to file VAT returns online within the stipulated time.

   The NBR Chairman said the government is implementing massive
infrastructural development works for communications, supplying natural gas
through pipelines and fuel from India through 130-km pipelines to Rangpur
region to create facilities for industrialization.

   Meanwhile, construction works of the Dhaka-Elenga-Rangpur six-lane highway
including installation of Bogra-Rangpur-Saidpur gas pipeline are being
implemented fast.

   "Local investors can invest in their own area and attract investors from
other districts to invest in Rangpur region for creating huge employment. Of
course, an industrial revolution will take place in the region in the near
future," he said.

   He called upon all to become self-motivated and come forward to
spontaneously pay revenue in various forms to accelerate the pace of
development of the country," he said, adding that the NBR is working to
increase the tax net and reduce the tax rates.

   He thanked RCCI authority for presenting excellent and very rich budget
proposals in a brochure to him and hoped that the proposals will be reflected
in the next budget.

   Members of NBR Masud Sadiq (Customs Policy), Zakia Sultana (VAT Policy),
Sams Uddin Ahmed (Policy), Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md. Abdul Wahhab
Bhuiyan, Deputy Inspector General of Rangpur Range Police Devdas
Bhattacharya, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohd Abdul Alim Mahmud
spoke as special guests.