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Download PDF The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has not yet accepted the Tk 33 lakh tax paid by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for legalising her undisclosed money under the ongoing amnesty, saying that it was not paid lawfully.
The NBR is also checking the way BNP leader and former finance minister Saifur Rahman paid 61 lakh in taxes to legalise over Tk 1 crore, to decide whether his tax submission will be accepted or not, sources said.
Former prime minister Khaleda paid the tax on Tuesday through her counsels to legalise Tk 1.30 crore. Saifur too paid the tax under the NBR amnesty through his representatives.
“As per the rule, the return should be submitted in the NBR authorised forms along with legal documents,” NBR Chairman Badiur Rahman told the journalists at his office yesterday about Khaleda’s submission.
“But she [Khaleda] did not submit the returns maintaining the rules, which means such a submission has no legality till now,” the NBR chief added.
About Saifur’s submission, a high official of the NBR said that they did not receive the papers yet.
“We have heard about this, but did not get the papers yet,” he said adding that the NBR would decide whether Saifur’s submission will be accepted or not once the papers came to the NBR office.
“We have paid taxes for legalising undisclosed money as per the rules and instructions of the NBR,” Khaleda’s lawyer Ahmed Aazam told The Daily Star. “Khaleda Zia has paid income tax as well as five percent of the total amount of the money as fine,” he added.
Asked about NBR chairman’s claim that the former prime minister did not submit returns lawfully, Aazam said, “I did not find any gross irregularly in submitting the return.”
Shimul Biswas, a BNP leader and Khaleda’s lawyer, said that Khaleda has been submitting tax returns since 1991 when she became prime minister. “But some of her income, which were not shown in previous returns, have been submitted under the present amnesty scheme.”
UNB adds: Aazam said Khaleda has moveable property worth over Tk 2.5 crore, including fixed deposits, bank balance and savings certificates. She also possesses immovable property worth Tk 10,000.
Giving an explanation about possessing immovable property worth only Tk 10,000 that include two houses (one each in Gulshan and Cantonment), one piece of land in Savar, Aazam said it is because the statement will only have the acquisition value of the houses. “For instance, the current value of her Gulshan residence on 1.5 bigha of land is about Tk 40 crore, but she got it from the government for only Tk 101.”
The BNP chairperson has a total of 11 FDRs and 2 savings accounts (Agrani Bank, RAF branch and Sonali Bank, Cantonment Branch).
Apart from the two houses in Dhaka, there is a piece of land in Savar bought by late Ziaur Rahman in the early 1970s for Tk 9,000. Khaleda has another small piece of land either in Uttarkhan or Dakhhinkhan, also bought by her husband. She could not find any details of that land, now occupied by others, Aazam said.
“There are three unused vehicles registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority under her name. She used these vehicles (2 Toyota jeeps and one Nissan Patrol) during the 1991 election.”
Asked how she reacted to the issuance of the notice, Aazam said, “She took it very easily. Given the activities since January 11, she was convinced that as she was the head of the government, she would be asked to submit wealth statement. She is viewing this issue from a legal perspective.”
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:20 am
Few questions for the care taker govt……….
#1..How did Khaleda Zia qulified to get a house in
Gulshan For TK.101,while she is living in cantonment?Who owns the cantonment house,Why this
Especial treatment in such poor country?
#2..Will this kind of treatment stop for good?
I hope this govt brings some kind of law in the country to stop this kind of looting public property!! And hope NBR disclose the money,Former P.M.LEGALISING her undisclosed money,let the public know!!!!!!
LASTY…THE DAUGHTERS OF SHAHEED MAJOR NAJMUL HAQUE WHO FOUGHT AND GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY,CAN ISHRAT JAHAN AND NAOREEN SABAH GET A HOUSE IN GULSHAN FOR TK 500!!!!!
I DONT KNOW IF THEY NEED A HOUSE,BUT I AM SURE
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR FATHER BEING HONOURED! WE SHOULD HONOUR ALL FREEDOM FIGHTERS
FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN 1971.
thanks…..
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I think We have been ruled by the Vikings that
“Tartarians” being masters will not pay any Taxes.
(AANBEY KINTU DEVANA) You donot have to name them,they were the leaders!
How very true it is, Must be depicted in the first
page of History of Bangladesh:
Mujib had certain priciples but His family members had none!
Zia Had also a number of Principles, but his family defamed him!
Thank you.