RAB proposes to join VAT collection drive

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) wants to conduct Value Added Tax (VAT) collection drive for the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The law enforcement agency also proposed to revise the current mobile court act in this connection.

NBR collects VAT under the present act and also takes action against the VAT dodgers. The VAT intelligence unit works to prevent VAT evasion. As per article 24 of the VAT Act, the law enforcing agencies can only provide cooperation, if sought for, to NBR officials in collection of tax.

RAB recently sent a proposal to the NBR and home ministry to revise the Mobile Court Act and include the law enforcement agency so that they could conduct drives against VAT dodgers. NBR officials however did not give any reaction to the proposal. Besides, the business community leaders termed it to be inappropriate. They said, tax collection is a specialised work and NBR has the experience to handle such work.

While speaking on the issue, NBR chairman Nojibur Rahman said, “We will collect VAT under the prevailing act and take the help of the law enforcement agencies if necessary.”

The written proposal signed by RAB director general (DG) Benazir Ahmed said drives under the mobile court act conducted by the RAB executive magistrates were being praised by the people for its success in dealing with various offences, including food adulteration, selling expired and fake medicine and cosmetics, phony physicians, unlicensed clinics and diagnostic centres, illegal blood banks, and illegal trade of wild animals.

Prothom Alo