RAJSHAHI, Jan 27, 2022 (BSS) - Speakers at a seminar here on Wednesday unanimously underscored the need for boosting revenue collection for the country's overall development.

   They said proper functioning of the country's business sector and other trade-related activities are the precondition to uplift the economic growth.

   There is no alternative to expand trade and business to a greater extent taking the country forward on the way to development.

   Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate organised the seminar at Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Zila Parishad Auditorium in the city to mark the International Customs Day-2022.

   This year, the theme of the day is 'Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem'.

  Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Zafarullah addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Customs Commissioner Lutfor Rahman in the chair.

  Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal President Humayun Kabir, Income Tax Commissioner Shafiqul Islam Akanda, Executive Director of Ishwardi EPZ Abdullah Al Mahbub and President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries Masudur Rahman also spoke.

   Laying stress on enhancing revenue collection from both internal and external sources, Divisional Commissioner Zafarullah said it could be an effective means of reducing dependency on foreign aid for executing the uplift programmes.

  Mentioning that revenue collection has increased four times in the last decade, he said custom has an important role to enhance internal revenue.

   He urged custom officials, employees, businessmen, C&F Agent to perform their duties with utmost sincerity so that Bangladesh can be turned into a developed country by 2041.

   Zafarullah attributed that digitisation will play an important role here. If the system is digital, the chances of tax evasion are reduced. There is a need to increase efficiency and reduce the chances of cheating.

  In his remarks, Abdullah Al Mahbub called upon the tax authorities to work diligently for the economic development of the people of the country and further facilitation of trade and commerce.

   He said the sectors that have the potential to attract new investments should be more active to find out new investors.