JS will pass the budget of 2019-20 on Sunday



Mahfuzul Islam, Senior Correspondent, Barta24.com
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photo: barta24

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The proposed budget of 2019-20 is going to be passed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Sunday (June30). The money bill will be placed the JS on June 29. There will be some changes in the new budget. The most significant changes will be in advanced tax, source tax on savings certificate and withdrawal of advanced tax in the import of capital machineries.

The taxes on retain earnings and reserve on the listed companies in the capital market is also going to be dropped. There will be no mandatory system of submitting Tax Identification Number(TIN) in taking electricity connections. Five percent tall tax on imports might be withdrawn. VAT on e-commerce also might be withdrawn.

Besides, the VAT will be either reduced or withdrawn on the consumer goods like edible oil, sugar, powder milk etc.

Advanced tax is being withdrawn: Under the VAT law the advanced tax will be exempted. No tax will have to pay on the imports including the import of capital machineries. On Saturday during passing of money fill it might be revised.

If the Finance Minister remains sick then the Prime Minister might present the money bill in the JS for approval and pass.

New VAT law: According to new VAT law in the advanced business the concern will have to pay AT instead of ATV. It means that in the import of capital machineries there will be advanced tall five percent taxes.

It was observed that due to this measure advanced taxes are being imposed on 6500 goods. After submitting VAT return this advanced tax shall be taken returned. However that businessman will have to pay the interest of the bank loan during the mid time of getting back the money earlier paid as advanced taxes. This will enhance the price of the imported capital machineries and imported goods. It will have direct impact on the consumers. After taking consideration of the matter it will be changed at the time of passing the budget.

Immediate after the announcement of budget all classes of businesses have been raising their objections on the imposition of VAT and taxes. They expressed that this will enhance the price of goods and services.

On the import of goods by government, semi-government, autonomous bodies and bonded bodies under VAT law the collection of advanced taxes have been kept suspended till June 30. The duration might be extended.

The enhanced source tax on savings certificate is going to be withdrawn: The most criticized feature of the proposed budget is the imposition of enhanced source tax on the life line of the middle class. In the budget punitive enhancement of 5 percent on the source making it from existing 5 to 10 percent was proposed. If this is passed then it will directly hit the middle class, retired personnel and small savings holders. This matter was seriously criticized in the JS. So the government is going to withdraw the enhanced rate of tax.

However the budget makers have to line of thinking. One is to withdraw the enhanced rate on all types of savings certificate and the second is to withdrawal from only family savings certificates and pensioners savings schemes. However the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will take the final decision.

In the proposed budget for flourishing capital market a bunch of incentives have been given. However the most discussed matter is imposition of 15 percent tax on the retain earnings and reserve. The concerned people are scared that if this provision is retained then the formation of capital will be hindered.

TIN in electricity connections: It was proposed in the budget that at the time of taking electricity connection the consumer shall have to submit TIN. This proposal was directly opposed by the State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid himself. He sent a DO letter to the Finance Minister to reconsider this proposal.

VAT will be withdrawn from e-commerce: Business through social media(Face Book, Twitter etc) and virtual business or on line business and many other sectors a proposal of slapping of VAT at the rate 7.5 percent has been proposed. This VAT rate might be reduced.

In the budget it was proposed to pay VAT at the rate of 15 percent along with payment of advanced tax(AT) on the import of raw materials of cement and MS rod. If this is done then the prices of these two construction materials will increase hampering the development of the country. However at demand of the businesses this AT might be withdrawn.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh(CAB) has demanded to keep the daily necessities including edible oil, sugar, powder milk exempted from the VAT. CAB also suggested the duplication of taxes on the consumer goods.

It is learnt that the Prime Minister might take the floor on this matter. She might reduce or withdraw the VAT on these daily necessities.

Government is going to bring changes in the proposed budget of 2019-20 with the size of Taka 5 lakh 23 thousand 190 crore. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might in the continuity of past years bring changes in the most discussed and criticized proposals.

The Finance Ministry and NBR expects that due to these changes the middle class and the traders will be happy. On last June 13 the proposed budget of Taka 5 lakh 23 thousand 190 crore and money bill was placed in the JS. The proposed budget was discussed and criticized both in the JS floor and outside by the law makers as well as organizations and think tanks also.

   

DGSHSE finds opportunity getting charge, served legal notice for misappropriation



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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Professor Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury, Director of College Administration of the Directorate, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHSE). At this time he was supposed to try to get the higher post by proving himself worthy. But instead of doing that, he has been accused of misappropriating money. Legal notice has already been sent. It is said that this professor embezzled a large sum of money from the BCS General Education Society.

Current President of BCS General Education Association Professor Shahedul Khabir of Economics Department served as Acting Secretary General from 2016 to 2022. At present, he has been serving as the president for the last two years. Reliable sources said that during the last six years, during the two posts, he spent the money of the association's general fund and special fund sector from two bank accounts of Janata Bank which raises questions. Apart from this, there was anger among the members about the income and expenditure account of various sectors of the association, including collection of subscriptions from various colleges across the country. As a result, under a lot of pressure, Shahedul formed an audit committee under the leadership of Professor ANM Shahadat Hossain, who is known as Khabir's own man. This committee, while auditing the bank accounts and income and expenditure of the association, found a huge amount of money falsification.

And on the basis of that audit, Abdur Razzak, a lecturer in accounting science department of Ramgarh Government College of Khagrachari district, has sent a legal notice to Shahedul Khabir, the general member of the association.

Supreme Court Advocate Md. Shaheen Ali sent the legal notice on behalf of this teacher.

In this notice, along with Shahedul Khabir, former treasurer of BCS General Education Association, Prof. Khan Rafiqul Islam, Acting Secretary General of the association and currently associate professor attached to Haji Abdul Baten College of Swandip, Chattogram district as OSD, are involved in financial irregularities. Shawkat Hossain Mollya, Treasurer of the association and Kamal Ahmed, Associate Professor of Management currently attached to the same college as OSD, have been sent the same legal notice. They have been asked to respond to the notice within the next 15 days.

Talking to several members of the association, Professor Nasreen Begum and IK Semilullah Khandokar were in charge of the BCS General Education Association until December 2015. During their tenure, Tk. 1 crore 9 lakh was explained to the next committee i.e. president elected in 2016 IK Salemullah Khandokar and secretary general Professor Shahedul Khabir. Two panels participated in the 2016 election of the 123-member committee of the association. One is the panel of IK Salemullah Khandokar, the other is the panel of Shahedul Khabir. Salemullah Khandokar was elected president in this election. No one else from his panel could be elected. The panel of Shahedul Khabir was elected for the remaining 122 posts. As a result, Selemullah Khandokar was left alone in the committee. On this occasion, Shahedul Khabir as Secretary General and his panel treasurer, former principal of Munshiganj Government College and former deputy director of Naeem Khan Rafiqul Islam bypassed the president and took control of all bank accounts of the association. On this occasion, from 2016 to 2022, several crores of taka were withdrawn from the bank under the signature of the two. For the last 6 years they have collected subscriptions from colleges across the country. How much has any college paid during this time? How was this money spent? They did not preserve any continuity of the present account with the previous account.

As a result of this, anger was created among the general members of the association regarding the expenditure and income of various sectors of the committee. Two audit committees were formed on March 7 of this year when the ruling leaders of the association protested such injustice in various ways including social media. This committee submitted the audit report after 24 days on March 31. The two committees were headed by two professors. They are embarrassed themselves by seeing these accounts and bank details. As a result, despite much reluctance, in the audit done by the president's own people, a discrepancy of Tk. 2 crore 84 lakh was mentioned.

The members of the association also complained that the president of the committee and the leaders under his leadership are not obeying any rules, thinking that they are powerful after being elected by the votes of the general members. Besides, many people are also complaining about nine-six in the current committee's vote.

Speaking to several people who participated in the audit, it was revealed that most of the vouchers presented to the audit committee were tampered with. Expenditure sector not mentioned. Even though lakhs of rupees were spent, he could not show his receipts or vouchers. As a result, there is evidence of gross negligence on the part of the BCS cadre professionals in keeping the account of expenses of crores of money. Everyone, including the head of the audit committee, was shocked.

Meanwhile, in the month of October and September 2023, BCS cadre-discrimination, promotion related issues including various demands, BCS general education cadre officers observed a strike for about 15 days. Talking to several teachers who participated in this strike, it is known that Shahedul Khabir was behind the 15-day strike of teachers across the country for various demands including promotion. He led this movement before the elections at the end of the third term of the present government by exerting a lot of pressure in the name of promotion. However, when the tension over his post started, he withdrew from the movement and asked the teachers to desist from the movement. At that time, Shahedul Khabir gave various statements to the media about the movement. The authenticity of which can be found in the online version of various newspapers.

Besides Shahedul Khabir, one of Shawkat Hossain Mollya's associates has been transferred to Sandwip Haji Abdul Baten College, but he has not been going to the college for the past three years. He is collecting salary with the help of college principal without going to college. As he is Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury's own man, no action is being taken against him even though he has not been at work for a long time. With the connivance of this Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury, all the irregularities and corruption of Noakhali Government College are harassing the teachers. Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury has stopped the investigation even though the Education Secretary has ordered a separate investigation against Noakhali Government College Principal Salma Akhter and vice-principal Lokman Bhuyan. Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury is the mentor of corruption in education across the country. Even if someone is caught doing irregularities, there is no investigation due to it. Even if the investigation is done, the paper of the report is not sent to the ministry. There are even allegations of forgery of Cumilla Board letters against members of this syndicate. The investigation of this incident is also blocked by the obstacle of the invisible.

When asked about sending a legal notice against the Director General of the same directorate working in secondary and higher secondary departments, lecturer Abdur Razzak told Barta24.com, "I am an ordinary member of the BCS General Education Association. As such, I have the right to know the financial income and expenditure account of this association. Like all the members of the association, I can ask for the financial account of the association without being angry with anyone. That is why I have sent a legal notice to those involved against the financial irregularities recently revealed in the audit. They have embezzled crores of money by the power of the association. We even see on Facebook that the signature of the check from the treasurer is forged. Where is the justification for signing a blank check? As a cadre service officer they cannot do this. If they can't give proper reply to my notice, can't show valid documents then criminal case will be filed against them.

When asked whether he is afraid of harassment due to sending a legal notice to the DG of the Directorate, this teacher of the accounting department said, "I am a victim of harassment since 2018. I was harassed in various ways for protesting against the corruption of DSHSE 10 school project. At that time I complained. The guilt of 9 persons is proved beyond doubt in that charge. The then Education Minister knew about it. But no action was taken. But I was kept as OSD for two years. From there he was transferred to Noakhali Government College. I have also complained to the ACC and the Education Secretary about the fraud in the examination center, taking money by tampering with the results, widespread corruption in the admission of students. Even there no action was taken against them after getting evidence of corruption. Instead I was transferred to Khagrachari. I'm not afraid of that either. I know I will be harassed. But I will not compromise with corruption as long as I live. Not only that, my promotion has been blocked by making adverse comments on my ACR. My juniors have been promoted. So I won't stop. Even if they are not prosecuted, people should know how they are ruining the education system.

In this regard, Shahedul Khabir, against whom so many complaints were made, could not be contacted. For two consecutive days, his mobile phone was called several times, but he did not receive it. Sent a message on WhatsApp but he did not reply. 

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Killing of two brothers in Faridpur: Ministers of Railways and Fisheries at the scene



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta 24

Photo: Barta 24

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On April 18, two brothers were beaten to death on suspicion of the violent incident of setting fire to a temple in Panchapalli, Dumain Union, Madhukhali, Faridpur. Railway Minister Bir Muktijoddha Jillul Hakim and Fisheries & Livestock Abdur Rahman visited the incident site on Wednesday (April 24).

The two ministers reached the spot around 8 pm on Wednesday. Earlier in the evening, a peace and harmony rally organized by the upazila administration was held at Dharmatala Adarsha Vidyalaya premises of Jungle Union of Baliakandi Upazila of Rajbari. Railway Minister Jillul Hakim spoke as the chief guest.

At the peace and harmony meeting, the Railway Minister said that Islam does not support the killing of any human being. Those who killed people are inferior. The murder of two brothers on suspicion of setting fire to the temple in neighboring union (Dumain) is brutal. Bangladesh today is recognized as a non-communal country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. A group is trying to destabilize the country by making it a communal issue. We will never let that happen.

The Railway Minister also said to the residents of Sanatan followers-dominated Jungle Union, the area next to Panchapally, you have no fear. You have the government on your side. No conspirator will be spared. Those who are real murderers will be judged. You will walk without fear. Don't listen to rumors. In case of any problem, inform the administration or law enforcement immediately.

Under the chairmanship of Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Hasibul Hasan, Rajbari Additional Superintendent of Police Mukit Sarkar, Baliakandi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Alamgir Hossain, Jungle Union Parishad Chairman Kallol Basu, Samadhinagar Arya Sangh Vidyalaya Principal Narod Bachar and others addressed the peace rally. About thousands of Sanatan followers, men and women were present in the peace rally.

After the peace and reconciliation rally, the Railway Minister visited the scene of the incident at Panchapalli in Dumain. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abder Rahman also visited there. The two ministers visited the damaged temple and the nearby primary school where the two brothers were killed and spoke to Tapati Rani who lit the evening lamp in the temple on the day of the incident.

After the visit, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Abdur Rahman told Journalists that no one will be spared in this incident. The real culprits will be brought to book through proper investigation. In response to the question of how long the police patrolling at every junction will last, the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock said that the police will continue patrolling until the law and order forces do not think that the area has become normal.



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Death toll rises to 9 in Sajek truck accident



District Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta 24

Photo: Barta 24

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The death toll rose to 9 when a dump truck lost control and fell into a ditch in the 'ninety degree' area of Udaipur border road in Sajek of Rangamati around 5:30 am. Earlier, 6 workers were killed on the spot. At this time 8 people were injured. There were 17 workers in the truck.

Baghaichhari Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Awal confirmed this on Wednesday (April 24) night. He said that the truck carrying the laborers lost control on the way back to the main station after finishing the work on the border road and fell into the mountain ditch. After rescuing the injured workers and taking them to Khagrachari hospital, doctors declared 3 dead.

Abdul Awal also said that the police went and rescued the victims after receiving information about the accident. There were 5 dead bodies in Sajek police station. A total of 9 people were killed in this accident, including the bodies of 4 people from Khagrachari Sadar Hospital. Identification of the names and identities of the victims is ongoing.

Dr. Sagar Dev Tapu of Resident doctor Khagrachari Sadar Hospital said that 4 out of 10 people injured in the road accident died on the way to the hospital. One out of six people under treatment is in critical condition.

Baghaichari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shirin Akter confirmed this and said that the police and the army have rescued the injured and sent them to Khagrachari General Hospital. However, no one was immediately identified.

According to local sources, the houses of the injured workers are in Rangpur area. Harijapara Bridge at a place called 17 km of the Udaipur Baghaichari border road.

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'KNF forced to drive at gunpoint' driver's statement in court



District Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Collected

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Chand’s  car driver Kofil Uddin Sagar of Thanchi gave a confessional statement that KNF members forced him to drive hostage at gunpoint during the Sonali and Krishi bank robberies, attack on mosques, robbery of money and weapons and abduction of bank manager in Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban.

On Wednesday (April 24) afternoon,  Chand's car driver of Thanchi Kofil Uddin Sagar said this in his confessional statement under Section 164 before Judge Nurul Haque of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

On the other hand, the court sent Kofil Uddin Sagar and six other members of the car arrested on suspicion of being members of Kuki-Chin National Front in the case of bank robbery in Ruma-Thanchi of Bandarban after two days of remand.

When they were produced in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court at 3.30 pm on Wednesday, Judge ASM Emran ordered them to be sent to jail.

Bishwajit Singh, GRO of Bandarban Court, said that today they were sent to jail after 2 days of remand when they were presented in court.

So far a total of 78 people including 77 KNF members and a Chand’s car driver have been sent to jail. 23 of them are women



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