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Dhaka North City Corporation administrator Mohammad Ejaz on Friday announced that the DNCC would organise a tax fair in the first week of May to facilitate easier payment of holding tax.

‘A one-stop service cell will be set up at the fair, allowing citizens to pay their holding tax instantly in a hassle-free manner,’ he said at a public hearing with residents of Region-7 at the Uttara Community Centre in Dhaka.

Responding to a resident’s query about tax waivers, Ejaz clarified that there was no provision in the law for rampant exemption of multiple years of unpaid holding tax. ‘There are legal procedures governing the assessment and payment of holding tax. We cannot override these laws to waive past dues. Doing so would be illegal and could lead to complications in the future.

‘A future official may be compelled to collect those dues again, which would only create trouble for residents. Instead, citizens are encouraged to pay their taxes annually, as per regulations,’ he added.

He, however, added that residents could apply for rebates. ‘We offer tax rebates within our jurisdiction, and we approve the highest possible amount within the legal framework. This helps reduce the total payable amount in a legal way.’

The DNCC administrator urged citizens to avoid purchasing from illegal street vendors, saying, ‘Dhaka has sufficient markets and bazaars.’

‘With public cooperation, solving this issue will be much easier,’ he said.

Commenting on dengue issue, the administrator emphasised collective responsibility, saying, ‘While DNCC workers are doing their part, every resident must maintain cleanliness in their homes and surroundings.’