Country News

Battery factory shut down in Narsingdi

An illegally established battery factory named Jinyuan Storage located at Palash upazila of the district has been shut down by the Environment of Department (DoE). A team led by Executive Magistrate Md Abdullah Al Mamun conducted a raid at Fulbaria village under the upazila and shut down the factory. Md Abdullah Al Mamun said the battery factory, set up without proper authorization in Fulbaria village, had long been causing significant environmental damage to nearby agricultural land and the surrounding areas. Local residents had been demanding its closure for a long time. Deputy Director Md Kamruzzaman Sarkar, Assistant Director Prashanta Kumar Roy, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Palash Upazila A H M Fakhrul Hossain, along with members of law enforcement agencies, were present during the drive.

Training workshop for Hajj pilgrims held in Kawnia

Kawnia Upazila Haji Kallyan Sangstha (HKS) organized a day-long training workshop for Hajj pilgrims today. About 300 male and female pilgrims, who are set to perform Hajj this year, participated in the training workshop held at the Baruahat Arafatia Nurani and Hafizia Madrasa and Lillah Boarding Hall Room in the upazila. Kawnia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mohidul Haque spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Hajj training workshop. Engineer Alhaj Md. Alamgir Hossain, senior journalist Sarwar Alam Mukul, BNP leader Principal Alhaj Sekendar Ali, Jamaat-e-Islam Upazila Amir Alhaj Abdul Salam Sarkar, former Civil Surgeon Alhaj Dr. Md. Rezaul Islam, Alhaj Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam and Alhaj Mujibur Rahman spoke as special guests. Kawnia Upazila Haji Kallyan Sangstha President Alhaj Md. Saidur Rahman presided over the event. Kawnia Upazila Haji Kallyan Sangstha Secretary Alhaj Abdul Haque, Alhaj Abdus Sobhan, Alhaj Amjad Hossain, among others, spoke. Hajj and Umrah Trainer and Lalmonirhat Police Lines Jam-e-Masjid Khatib Alhaj Hafez Qari Moulana Amjad Hossain Sarkar, Alhaj Nazir Ahmed, Hajj and Umrah Trainers Alhaj Habibur Rahman, Hajj and Alhaj Emdadul Haque Hajj conducted different sessions of the event. They delivered lectures on Wudu (ablution), Tayammum (dry ablution), Arkan al-Hajj (pillars of Hajj), Ahkam al-Hajj (Islamic rulings of Hajj) and Umrah Hajj to guide the pilgrims in performing Hajj in the approved manner. The program concluded with a special munajat in the afternoon.

Bangladesh lost Tk 226,236cr for tax evasion in 2023: CPD

Bangladesh lost an estimated amount of Taka 226,236 crore in tax revenue in 2023 due to tax evasion and avoidance, according to a study. Of this amount, it was estimated that around 50 percent was lost due to corporate tax evasion. The estimated corporate tax evasion in 2023 amounted to roughly Taka 113,118 crore, the study said. The Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) unveiled the findings today at a briefing on corporate income tax reform for graduating Bangladesh at its office in the capital. The study unearthed a sharp rise in tax evasion since 2011, with estimates reaching Taka 96,503 crore in 2012. Research Director of CPD Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem unveiled the findings of the study at an event titled “Corporate Income Tax Reform for Graduating Bangladesh: The Justice Perspective” held at its office in the capitals Dhanmondi area today. Researcher M Tamim Ahmed made the key-note presentation on the findings of the study jointly carried out by Christian Aid in Bangladesh and CPD. The CPD identified several root causes behind Bangladeshs persistent tax evasion problem, including high tax rates, weak enforcement, complex legal frameworks, and widespread corruption within the tax system. The report said from a tax justice perspective, high levels of tax evasion undermine compliance by discouraging honest taxpayers and increasing the burden on those who comply with the law. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Golam Moazzem said that apart from tax evasion, the government is also losing a huge amount of revenues due to incentives and tax exemptions. “Various sector-wise tax exemptions are being provided citing investment and such practice should have to be stopped fully. Incentives or tax exemptions couldnt be the base for making investments,” he said, alleging that the incentive structure of Bangladesh has been framed out of political considerations. “Well have to come out from such structure,” he added. The CPD Research Director said that the context of Bangladeshs upcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status poses a challenge before the country while following the graduation, investments from the multinational companies would increase in the country. “As a result, the risk for tax evasion and tax exemptions will increase,” he said, adding that the CPD has recommended for enhancing the institutional capacity to face such challenge side by side improving the digital tax structures in tax system and thus carrying out policy reforms. The CPD also stressed the importance of aligning with global tax agreements and fostering cooperation with other countries to ensure a fair and transparent tax regime.

Womens Affairs Commission urges for one-third female representation in local government offices

Womens Affairs Reform Commission urged the interim government to ensure minimum one-third female representation in all the local government offices. The reform commission made this recommendation along with a series of comprehensive reforms submitted to the Chief Adviser (CA) at Jamuna on Saturday (April 19). WARC chief Shireen Parveen Haque handed over the report to the CA along with other members of the commission. The reform commission has placed 15 recommendations to the interim government. Major recommendations included - Constitutional acknowledgement of women, inclusion of women in national and local governances, participation of women in the mass media, decentralization of power and local level development to establish womens interests and rights, building a violence-free society for women and girls. The proposed reforms are Constitution, Law and Womens Rights: The Foundation of Equality and Protection, Institutional Systems and National Institutions for the Advancement of Women, Decentralization and Local-Level Development to Establish Womens Interests and Rights, Violence-Free Society for Women and Girls, Role of Women in Public Sphere: National and Local Levels, Womens Participation in Public Administration, Education, Technology and Skill Development for Womens Advancement, Good Health for Women of All Ages, Participation in the Economy and Rights to Property, Labor and Employment, Safe Migration of Women Workers, Sustainable Social Security for Poverty Reduction, Womens Participation in Media, Filmmaking and Publishing, Womens Inclusion and Development in Sports and Culture, and Women in Disasters and Climate Change. Special importance was placed to the interim government for reviewing the existing laws to prevent violence against women and children.

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