NBR chairman vows tougher action against gold smuggling

Abdur Rahman Khan, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), has warned that tougher steps will be taken to tackle gold smuggling, streamline tax procedures and ensure fair pricing of essential goods.

Speaking at a press conference after the opening of a passenger service helpdesk at customs at the airport today, the chairman underlined the discrepancies in the amount of gold in the country compared to official import data.

“This imbalance must be brought within the regulatory framework. “Any aircraft facilitating gold smuggling will face strict action, including bans and revocation of route permits,” he said.

Improved services for taxpayers

The chairman announced plans to launch a mobile application for filing tax returns next year, taking a step towards fully automating the tax payment process.

He emphasized reducing direct interactions between tax officials and taxpayers to minimize complications.

To make tax payments more accessible, debit and credit card transactions have been facilitated.

“For payments below Tk 25,000 through cards, the processing fee is Tk 20, while for amounts above this threshold, the maximum fee is Tk 50.”

He also noted that all corporate tax returns will come online next year.

Price regulation and rate adjustments

Ahead of Ramadan, the NBR focuses on keeping the prices of important raw materials stable.

The Chairman assured that steps are being taken to ensure reasonable prices for potatoes, onions and sugar.

To further ease the burden on consumers, he said, the government will soon reduce import duties on dates.

He pointed out that sugar prices are now within reach, thanks to a double reduction in tariffs, and that import duties on eggs have already been reduced. However, rising international prices for soybeans and palm oil have pushed up edible oil prices in local markets.

Guaranteeing passenger convenience

Addressing concerns over harassment of passengers at airports, the President said authorities are prioritizing preventive measures.

“Any complaint about customs services will be resolved immediately. Unfortunately, many citizens are unaware of their rights and hesitate to report problems,” he said.

To make the complaints process more accessible, passengers can now file a complaint online.

“Services provided by customs are rights, not favors. Complaints submitted online will be dealt with promptly,” the chairman assured.