KHULNA, August 10, 2025 (BSS) - The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has collected Tk 80.64 crore in revenue during the fiscal 2024-25, marking a 2.97 percent increase from the previous fiscal.

Despite having arrears of Tk 47.95 crore from nine major commercial entities, KCC officials have termed this year's collection as a record. 

According to data from the KCC Revenue Section, the majority of the revenue -- Tk 50.41 crore -- came from holding taxes, conservancy, and electricity, reflecting a 4.51 percent increase compared to the previous year.

However, revenue from the estate section saw a 2.79 percent decrease, totaling Tk 17.26 crore. 

In contrast, trade license revenue rose sharply by 95.92 percent, reaching Tk 6.58 crore. Transport license revenue increased by 21.77 percent to Tk 3.08 crore, while income from kitchen (bazar) markets rose by 6.93 percent to Tk 3.32 crore.

In the previous fiscal 2023-24, the corporation collected a total of Tk 77.67 crore, including Tk 45.89 crore from holding, conservancy, and electricity, Tk 20.05 crore from the estate section, Tk 5.62 crore from trade licenses, Tk 2.86 crore from transport licenses and Tk 3.25 crore from kitchen markets.

The revenue target set in the 2024-25 budget, announced in June 2024 by the previous KCC administration, was Tk 82.41 crore. The target included Tk 45 crore from holding, conservancy, and electricity, Tk 23.41 crore from the estate section, Tk 6.50 crore from trade licenses, Tk 3.50 crore from transport licenses and Tk 4 crore from kitchen markets.

Talking to BSS, KCC Revenue Officer Abdul Mazed said the city corporation managed to collect 97.85 percent of the targeted amount. 

"This year, our revenue collection has grown by almost 3 percent compared to last year. We are working to improve civic services using our own resources," he said.

He also pointed out that the KCC is still owed Tk 47.95 crore in unpaid dues by nine organizations, many of which are now defunct. These include the Khulna Development Authority (Tk 21.75 crore), Bangladesh Railway (Tk 2.75 crore), Bangladesh Navy (Tk 2.74 crore), and several closed factories and mills such as Dhaka Match Company, Sonali Jute Mills, Khulna Hardboard Mills, Khulna Newsprint Ltd, and Ajax Jute Mills. The Khulna Divisional Stadium also owes over Tk 83 lakh.

Most of these institutions, particularly the closed ones, were shut down during the fascist Awami League regime. 

At a recent budget preparatory meeting, KCC Administrator and Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar commended the revenue performance, noting that the city has reached a new milestone without increasing tax rates. He credited the online systems for holding tax and trade license payments for the improved collection.

He added that the upcoming budget will be realistic and designed to strengthen civic services without imposing additional tax burdens on residents. 

"We are working to enhance the capacity of urban services as per the interim government's directives. There is no alternative to increasing our revenue if we want to stand on our own feet," he said.