National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has warned that stricter measures would be taken to curb gold smuggling, streamline tax procedures and ensure fair pricing of essential commodities.

Speaking at a press briefing after the inauguration of a passenger assistance service at the airport customs today, the President highlighted the discrepancies between the volume of gold in the country and its official import records.

“This imbalance must be subject to regulatory frameworks. Any aircraft found to facilitate gold smuggling will face strict action, including bans and revocation of route permits,” he said.

Improved services for taxpayers

The president announced plans to launch a mobile application for submitting tax returns next year, marking a step toward fully automating the tax payment process.

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

To make paying taxes more accessible, debit and credit card transactions have been made easier.

“For payments below Tk 25,000 per card, the processing fee will be Tk 20, while for amounts above this threshold, the maximum fee will be Tk 50.”

He also noted that all corporate tax returns would be made available online by next year.

Price regulation and tariff adjustments

As Ramadan approaches, the NBR is focusing on maintaining price stability of major commodities.

The President assured that measures were being taken to ensure reasonable prices for potatoes, onions and sugar.

To further ease the burden on consumers, he said, the government is expected to reduce customs duties on certain dates soon.

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

Ensuring passenger comfort

Responding to concerns about harassment of passengers at airports, the president said authorities were prioritizing preventive measures.

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

To make the claims process more accessible, passengers can now submit their claims online.

“The services provided by customs are rights and not favors. Complaints submitted online will be processed promptly,” assured the president.