Staff Correspondent

The National VAT (value added tax) Day, 2023 will be observed today while the National VAT Week, 2023 will be held on December 10-15 across the country in a befitting manner.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has chalked out various programmes to mark the National VAT Day and VAT Week to be observed in the country with the slogan “Amar VAT Ami Dibo, Kenar Somoy Chalan Nibo”.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the National VAT Day and VAT Week, wishing all programmes of the Day and Week a success.

In his message, the President greeted businessmen, consumers and all staff involved in revenue collection to mark the day. President Mohammed Shahabuddin mentioned that revenue sector is one of the most important sectors to meet up all expenditures of the state alongside implementing the development projects in order to continue the development activities of the country.

Mentioning that Bangladesh is moving at an indomitable pace in the highway of development, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced the 'Vision-2041' in order to turn Bangladesh as a developed country.

The President said implementation of mega projects like Padma Bridge with own funding, Metro Rail, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, South Asia's first tunnel or Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, and third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has opened up new horizon of success.

“I believe that such development activities will represent Bangladesh afresh in the global arena,” he added.

Mohammed Shahabuddin also called upon the businessmen, consumers, revenue staff to come forward in maintaining the current pace of revenue collection.

“In order to build an enriched state coffer, the consumers and businessmen would have to become more responsible alongside the revenue board staff,” he added.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “The role of VAT is indispensible in infrastructural and technological development, in health, education, ensuring food safety, and in building Digital and Smart Bangladesh.”

She opined that the theme of this year’s VAT Day and VAT Week “Amar VAT Ami Dibo, Kenar Somoy Chalan Nibo' has become proper and time befitting.

Highlighting implementation of various initiatives and projects of the present government in the revenue sector, the Premier said the business and investment-friendly environment would increase further in the country side by side revenue collection and newer employments would also increase.

Sheikh Hasina also expressed her firm belief that all concerned would utilize their innovative power and thus work with honesty and integrity to materialize the vision of building 'Smart Bangladesh'.

The premier also wished utmost success of all programmes undertaken on the occasion of 'VAT Day and VAT Week, 2023'.