The business community of readymade garments and textiles sector urged the National Board of Revenue to punish those who misuse duty-free bond facilities, instead of harassing genuine exporters for avoidable mistakes.
They also urged the disclosure of the names of businesses abusing the bond facility, as it is their wrongdoing that harms legitimate businesses.
They were speaking at the 鈥楳eet the Business鈥� event organised by the NBR at the Revenue Building in capital鈥檚 Agargaon on Sunday.
NBR chairman Abdur Rahman Khan presided over the monthly routine talks.
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said those who misuse bonded warehousing facilities never face consequences.
鈥楾ake timely action against the offenders, if necessary, publishes their photos in newspapers,鈥� he added.
Urging the government to consider withdrawing HS codes for import of goods under bond licences, he said, 鈥榯he major complications arise because of HS codes. At the end of the year, we submit our accounts down to the last penny, so why should HS codes create additional hassles?
He also said that due to errors in HS codes, businesses are even accused of false declarations.
He further said that frequent transfers of revenue officers and assistant revenue officers cause files to remain pending for long periods.
鈥楽mall enterprises also struggle to secure bank guarantees and we demand special consideration for them,鈥� he added.
The businesses were responding to the NBR chairman鈥簊 comment on the misuse of the bond facility by the businesses.
In this regard, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said they are concerned that the next day they may see news of widespread misuse of bonds.聽
鈥楧on鈥簍 make the entire business community responsible for a few misusers. Identify the culprits clearly,鈥� he urged the NBR chairman.
鈥筗e have already warned 22 of our factories not to engage in such practices. We will not accept a situation where the entire industry is blamed because of the misconduct of a handful,鈥� he added.
He also said that聽businesses without bond licences have already been allowed to import raw materials using bank guarantees.
鈥業f this system becomes fully functional, at least 200 of our members will surrender their bond licences as maintaining a bond licence is complicated and many want to be free from that hassle,鈥� he added.
On the decision to shift the authority to grant tax exemptions to Parliament, Mahmud Hasan welcomed the move.
鈥楾he NBR chairman will no longer have this authority, nor will the finance adviser. It must go to Parliament, and we appreciate that. At the same time, we want to ensure that any facility withdrawn should also go through Parliament. Sudden withdrawal of benefits through SROs should no longer happen; that authority should also lie with Parliament,鈥� he added.
Responding to the BGMEA president鈥檚 request, the NBR chairman said they would share the list of bond licence users, but it聽cannot be shared.
He announced that bond officials will soon undergo a week-long training programme, and those failing to qualify may face difficulties continuing in their roles, and incompetent officials could be dismissed.
NBR chairman also said that聽facing rising external debt and limited fiscal space, the government is under pressure from development partners to boost revenue through tougher tax policies and reduced exemptions.
Abdur Rahman Khan said Bangladesh鈥檚 mounting debt obligations and the need for sustainable budget financing have left very limited choices beyond enhancing domestic revenue collection rather than resorting to repeated external borrowing.
He also said that Bangladesh鈥檚 low tax-to-GDP ratio is often attributed to a long-standing culture of tax exemptions, a practice that has continued for nearly five decades.
Although exemptions were historically provided to address development needs, he stressed that the current economic situation now requires a fundamental shift towards a more disciplined and equitable tax structure.
To address this, the government has introduced a Revenue and Tax Expenditure Policy this year and amended multiple tax-related laws, including those related to income tax and customs.
聽Under the new directive, the NBR and ministries will no longer have the authority to grant any tax exemption.
