Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman piloted the bill, which is likely to be passed on Thursday as the minister has asked the parliamentary standing committee on the finance ministry to submit a report today after scrutinising the bill.

The parliamentary body at an emergency meeting last night okayed the bill. It will submit its report today, meeting sources said.

The finance minister yesterday told reporters after a meeting at the secretariat that the ombudsman will be appointed by this month. The government will consider appointing ombudsman for other sectors if the tax ombudsman functions properly, he added.

After the passage of the bill, the president will appoint the tax ombudsman for a four-year term. He or she will head a separate office with necessary staff. The ombudsman can deal with NBR related taxes including VAT, import duty and income tax.

The tax ombudsman will be independent in discharging his duties and he can only be removed the way a Supreme Court judge is removed.

The bill proposed for providing the ombudsman with judicial power to investigate any allegation filed by a taxpayer. The ombudsman himself can probe any complaint or authorise any official at his office to do it.

According to the proposed bill, the authorised official will have access to any official documents necessary for investigation.

The ombudsman can also issue warrant asking anybody to appear at his office.

The office of the ombudsman will be a recommending body. The government is obliged to implement its recommendations. The government will have to explain the causes if it fails to implement the recommendation, the bill proposed.

The ombudsman will receive complaints from the taxpayers and hear both the taxpayers and tax officials to resolve the disputes. If necessary, he or she can take help from an advisory committee to dispose of a complaint, proposed the bill.

The ombudsman can form an investigation team and direct the team to raid the house of the taxpayers or tax officials concerned when and if necessary.

If a tax official is found guilty, the ombudsman will recommend necessary action against him. If the NBR disagrees with the ombudsman's recommendations, it can explain to the ombudsman the reasons of disagreement.

If the ombudsman continues to differ from the NBR on any particular issue, the ombudsman will seek the finance minister or the president's guidance.

If a taxpayer is found guilty of making false allegation against tax officials, the ombudsman can suggest punitive actions against him.

The tax ombudsman will regularly submit to the president an annual report within three months of completion of a calendar year.

Before filing any complaint against the tax offices with the ombudsman, a taxpayer will have to sign a declaration. If an issue is already dealt with by court or pending in court, the ombudsman's office will not deal with it.

The bill proposed the tax ombudsman has to be a person less than 67 years old. A retired judge or government official can be chosen for this post. The ombudsman will have experience in and knowledge of revenue and tax issues.

According to the NBR, only 17 lakh people in Bangladesh, with a population of 14 crore, have tax identification numbers (TIN) and less than five lakh actually pay tax. The taxpayers often complain of bribery and harassment.

VESSELS' WAIVER
Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain yesterday placed in parliament a bill titled 'Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance, 1982' proposing another two-year extension of general waiver of taxes on the Bangladeshi vessels for smooth handling of cargoes.

The two-year general waiver is due to expire on July 11 next.

The bill is likely to be passed on Thursday as the minister has asked the parliamentary standing committee on the shipping ministry to submit a report today after scrutinising the bill. The parliamentary body last night approved the bill.