Tax net
M Shaukat Ali, On e-mail
The Hon'ble Finance Minister has been campaigning for realising taxes of various names and natures from the 'public'. He has made all out efforts to net even the small fries. Even those whose annual income is less than Tk 150 thousand have been netted without considering the present price level which is bounding up unbridled. It seems he is determined to show the international aid and lending agencies that he can accomplish such a difficult mission. He is now going for stringent laws to deal with the tax-evaders/defaulters. His intentions are apparently honest, no doubt. But there remain a few questions which he has to answer to justify his action plan.A. It is quite known that most politicians, at least those holding public offices, are pledge bound to preserve and protect public interest. But how can they become rich overnight? B. Even the minister himself knows the names of officers and employees, even such petty ones as 'inspectors' and 'meter-readers', of various ministries, including his own, who own fabulous assets both fixed and liquid in this capital. How is that possible? C. It is known to all that crores of taka are wasted by way of loss and mismanagement or pilferage every year. Those responsible for such colossal loss and pilferage have seldom been brought to justice. Why? Whose money was that? We, the common citizens, pay taxes of various kinds to get the services we lawfully deserve and expect them from various government agencies and departments. But everywhere we have either to pay bribes or suffer unspeakable harassments to get things done. Even our life and property are not safe nowadays, not to mention our basic civic and human rights. We are not safe in our jobs or other vocations. How long will this continue and what is the government's plan to make things better? It is hoped that we, the common people, will be given satisfactory answers to the above questions.
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