Dhaka Times Report. If our policies are not changed, the country will never improve. We made this country independent in 1971 and we will live happily in this country. This country is our country, we will work shoulder to shoulder for the development of this country. But in reality what we did? Today, many people are doing dirty work like tax evasion. But this tax has been playing a great role in our national development. Still many are evading taxes personally. But this time the incident is going to happen not only at the national level but also at the international level. Because even though Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is a domestic tournament, there are foreign players in it. So the image of the country depends a lot on it. But those BPL organizers want to evade taxes!
According to a news of Dainik Yugantar, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 cricket organizers do not want to pay taxes of about 25 crores to the government treasury. BPL sponsors have started a cold fight with the tax officials over this. This mega event is being held for the first time in Bangladesh. 71 foreigners including the US (coaching staff) have participated in this along with foreign players and training. Hundreds of crores of rupees are being traded in foreign currency in 12 sectors including their remuneration, team buying, campaigning, ticket sales. Khatwari is required by law to collect percentage withholding tax ranging from 10 to 25 percent on these transactions. But the organizers are giving birth to one scam after another to dodge it with different strategies. Tax officials are also repeatedly non-cooperative in providing information. In this situation, the NBR last week banned foreigners from leaving Bangladesh without proof of tax payment. This caused a strong reaction at all levels. Then, in a meeting with the Income Tax Department held on February 23, the BPL organizers agreed to give a bond that 'full tax will be paid by April 30'. NBR member MA Quader Sarkar assured them that no one would face any problem in leaving the country after the game if this bond is given. However, no attempt to evade tax will be accepted. On February 26, he said, according to the law, proper taxes must be paid. No one has the authority to decide otherwise.
According to the news of the newspaper, meanwhile, the BPL organizers (Franchisee) are taking new strategies to evade taxes.
Attempts to change the agreement between the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB) and India's Game on Sports Management (GOSM) have begun. However, Income Tax officials have strongly denied it. BCCB is fully tax free for any sports related transactions due to tax exemption facility. But the executed agreement clearly mentions that GOSM will have all rights to conduct the tournament. BCCB will only get some money from GOSM. As a result, sponsors or organizers have to contract with the Indian GOSM for team purchase, broadcasting rights, ticket sales rights and other ancillary activities. In this BCCB tax exemption benefits are not applicable to them. Realizing this, the BPL sponsors have initiated a new agreement with the BCCB despite having an agreement. In Thursday's meeting too, the sponsors said that a new deal would be signed directly with the BCCB.
Related sources said that in the meeting, the tax officials said that this kind of malpractice will not be acceptable. They say that despite the agreement, the initiative to make a new agreement will be cheating the government. Any such attempt is against the Income Tax Act and is a criminal act. Kanan Kumar Roy, president of the committee formed to collect tax from the BPL tournament, said that everyone agreed to pay the tax in Thursday's meeting. However, a new contract has also been mentioned. We have informed, according to the law, he has no chance. And then NBRO will not take it lightly.
According to an order of the NBR, a committee headed by the Director General of Tax Inspection Department Kanan Kumar Roy has been formed to collect the tax arising from the transaction of BPL cricket tournament. It is said that this mega tournament organized for the first time according to the agreement made with various organizations including the cricket board involves transactions in foreign and domestic currency worth hundreds of crores of rupees. A huge amount of tax is chargeable at source on these transactions as per the Income Tax Ordinance. Apart from this, taking prior permission of Bangladesh Bank in case of foreign currency remittance is mandatory for all parties concerned with BPL. It will also ensure tax collection by the government. Meanwhile, NBR has requested Bangladesh Bank not to allow foreign currency remittance without deduction or collection of income tax at source in case of any transaction related to BPL.
According to related sources, Barisal Burners (Alif Group) 1.1 million dollars, Chittagong Kings (SQ Sports) 1.2 million dollars, Dhaka Gladiators (Europa Group) 1.5 million dollars, Khulna Royal Bengal (Orion Group) 1.10 million dollars, Durant Rajshahi (Digital Auto Care) 1.7 million dollars and Sylhet Royals (Walton Group) 1.6 million dollars are spending a total of 6.49 million dollars. Which has been given to the Indian GOSM to buy the team. In addition, about 4.5 million dollars or more will be spent on players' wages. On the other hand, the sale of tickets and other sectors will deal with hundreds of crores of rupees.
It is learned that the Kanan Kumar committee has already collected several contracts and other documents executed between various organizations participating and involved in the tournament. Based on this, 12 sectors have been identified for tax collection and it is expected to generate revenue of at least 25 crore rupees. Notable among these sectors are money paid by sponsors to Game on Sports Management Company BAGOSM for buying teams, money paid to GOSM's local agent Impertex Bd., money paid by Shihab Trading, which holds the rights to sell tickets, money paid by online ticket sales, paid by TV broadcaster Virgo Media. Money, money paid to domestic and foreign players, coaches and related parties etc.
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