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The government counted as much as Tk 36.44 million in lost revenues as the Standard Chartered Bank did not properly deduct value added tax (VAT) at source for different services it received, an audit has found out.
The Comptroller and Auditor General's Office, after conducting a special audit at the Large Taxpayers Unit of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for 2006-07 fiscal, unearthed the alleged irregularities and recommended that the money be recovered.
According to the CAG's special report, the multinational bank was supposed to pay Tk 43.71 million in VAT for enjoying different services during the fiscal but paid only Tk 7.27 million, thereby causing a loss of Tk 36.44 million.
It enjoyed services such as consultancy, advertisement, repair and maintenance, security, and entertainment during the fiscal.
Under VAT Act, 1991, clients receiving services are required to deduct VAT at source and submit the money to the exchequer, the report pointed out. "But in this case, VAT was not properly deducted at source and submitted to the exchequer," it observed.
Standard Chartered Bank is the oldest and largest foreign bank in Bangladesh. Having set up its first branch in Chittagong in 1948, it now has 26 branches, 57 ATMs and seven financial kiosks in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Bogra and Narayanganj.
The bank employs more than 1,300 people.
It is the first international bank to extend credit lines to Bangladesh and open the first external letter of credit (LC) here in 1972.
Stanchart made acquisitions of ANZ Grindlays Bank in 2000 and the commercial banking business of American Express Bank in Bangladesh in 2006, and currently provide both consumer banking and wholesale banking services.
The Comptroller and Auditor General's Office, after conducting a special audit at the Large Taxpayers Unit of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for 2006-07 fiscal, unearthed the alleged irregularities and recommended that the money be recovered.
According to the CAG's special report, the multinational bank was supposed to pay Tk 43.71 million in VAT for enjoying different services during the fiscal but paid only Tk 7.27 million, thereby causing a loss of Tk 36.44 million.
It enjoyed services such as consultancy, advertisement, repair and maintenance, security, and entertainment during the fiscal.
Under VAT Act, 1991, clients receiving services are required to deduct VAT at source and submit the money to the exchequer, the report pointed out. "But in this case, VAT was not properly deducted at source and submitted to the exchequer," it observed.
Standard Chartered Bank is the oldest and largest foreign bank in Bangladesh. Having set up its first branch in Chittagong in 1948, it now has 26 branches, 57 ATMs and seven financial kiosks in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Bogra and Narayanganj.
The bank employs more than 1,300 people.
It is the first international bank to extend credit lines to Bangladesh and open the first external letter of credit (LC) here in 1972.
Stanchart made acquisitions of ANZ Grindlays Bank in 2000 and the commercial banking business of American Express Bank in Bangladesh in 2006, and currently provide both consumer banking and wholesale banking services.
Former advisor to the caretaker government Maj Gen M A Matin (retd) has said he was not involved in the repression of Dhaka University students and teachers in 2007.
Matin's comments came on Sunday -- three days after a parliamentary sub-committee recommended legal measures against "people at the helm" of the then caretaker government for the acts of cruelty against the students and teachers.
Matin said he had, in fact, taken steps to free the detained teachers and students when he was given charge of the home ministry.
Matin was an advisor for the communications, shipping, civil aviation and Liberation War affairs ministries till Jan 14 2008. He was given charge of the home, shipping and Liberation War affairs ministries on Jan 15 that year.
Rashed Khan Menon, head of the parliamentary sub-panel on the education ministry, told reporters on Thursday that the committee has finalised its report. "It will be submitted to the parliamentary committee on Dec 21," he had said.
Many media reports the following day said the sub-committee recommended punishment for army and civil officials, including Matin, for the 2007 incident at DU.
Menon clarified: "We haven't published the report yet… (We) didn't say anything officially. His (Matin's) speech is based on the news reports.
"I don't know from where he received the information (that he has been indicted)."
Menon said the report is waiting for a final nod from the parliamentary standing committee on the education ministry.
'NO CHANCE OF SELF-DEFENCE'
On Sunday, Matin sent a statement to media offices in Chittagong titled: 'My speech about the parliamentary sub-committee's final report published in the media'.
In it, he stated that the sub-committee did not give him the chance of self-defence or to speak for himself.
"Instead, it charged me for the incident at DU in August 2007 and recommended punishment," he said.
The charge was brought "intentionally" to harass him, Matin added.
'NOT SO SERIOUS'
Asked whether Matin was named in the report, Menon said, "The former advisor had been the chief of the Crime Prevention Taskforce. So he could be named as reference (but) it's not so serious."
On Thursday, Menon had said, "We did not catch the small fries but (went for) those responsible for the incident. We have recommended bringing them to justice."
Army personnel camped on DU campus assaulted students on Aug 20, 2007 following an altercation with some students on the university's playground during a football match.
The students also assaulted some senior army officers and went on a rampage in Dhaka and other cities, burning and damaging dozens of vehicles as they clashed with the police.
The army men subsequently launched a ruthless assault on the students that went on for the next several days.
After taking office in 2009, the grand alliance government formed the sub-committee to look into the incident that had left the country shaken. The panel has recorded statements from many army men, students and teachers since then.
Matin's comments came on Sunday -- three days after a parliamentary sub-committee recommended legal measures against "people at the helm" of the then caretaker government for the acts of cruelty against the students and teachers.
Matin said he had, in fact, taken steps to free the detained teachers and students when he was given charge of the home ministry.
Matin was an advisor for the communications, shipping, civil aviation and Liberation War affairs ministries till Jan 14 2008. He was given charge of the home, shipping and Liberation War affairs ministries on Jan 15 that year.
Rashed Khan Menon, head of the parliamentary sub-panel on the education ministry, told reporters on Thursday that the committee has finalised its report. "It will be submitted to the parliamentary committee on Dec 21," he had said.
Many media reports the following day said the sub-committee recommended punishment for army and civil officials, including Matin, for the 2007 incident at DU.
Menon clarified: "We haven't published the report yet… (We) didn't say anything officially. His (Matin's) speech is based on the news reports.
"I don't know from where he received the information (that he has been indicted)."
Menon said the report is waiting for a final nod from the parliamentary standing committee on the education ministry.
'NO CHANCE OF SELF-DEFENCE'
On Sunday, Matin sent a statement to media offices in Chittagong titled: 'My speech about the parliamentary sub-committee's final report published in the media'.
In it, he stated that the sub-committee did not give him the chance of self-defence or to speak for himself.
"Instead, it charged me for the incident at DU in August 2007 and recommended punishment," he said.
The charge was brought "intentionally" to harass him, Matin added.
'NOT SO SERIOUS'
Asked whether Matin was named in the report, Menon said, "The former advisor had been the chief of the Crime Prevention Taskforce. So he could be named as reference (but) it's not so serious."
On Thursday, Menon had said, "We did not catch the small fries but (went for) those responsible for the incident. We have recommended bringing them to justice."
Army personnel camped on DU campus assaulted students on Aug 20, 2007 following an altercation with some students on the university's playground during a football match.
The students also assaulted some senior army officers and went on a rampage in Dhaka and other cities, burning and damaging dozens of vehicles as they clashed with the police.
The army men subsequently launched a ruthless assault on the students that went on for the next several days.
After taking office in 2009, the grand alliance government formed the sub-committee to look into the incident that had left the country shaken. The panel has recorded statements from many army men, students and teachers since then.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) officials will have to follow certain norms while investigating allegations of corruption to prevent harassment and dupery from now on.
Separate and specific notices will have to be served to take statements of people charged with corruption or witnesses, as 'some officials are issuing notices at their will', an internal ACC order said on Sunday.
The order said firm steps will be taken against those not following the rules.
The order follows several incidents of fake calls to witnesses or accused using the name of ACC. Police suspect that many ACC officials could be behind the incidents.
The order has been issued to specify as to who is an accused and who a witness, ACC commissioner Mohammad Shahbuddin Chuppu told .
"Notices will have to be served only after filling specific forms for the purpose now onwards," he added.
"People panic on hearing of ACC notice. It creates misunderstanding. The commission has taken the decision to prevent recurrence of such incidents," the ACC commissioner said.
An ACC official, requesting anonymity, said they were also directed orally not to communicate with people charged with corruption or witnesses.
"Phone can be used only after permission in special cases."
On Dec 7, ACC issued a statement alerting people against extortion by 'some' of its officials.
The commission advised filing of a general diary or complaint with police and informing ACC through 029352552 or 01730303201 numbers, in case of similar occurrences.
Separate and specific notices will have to be served to take statements of people charged with corruption or witnesses, as 'some officials are issuing notices at their will', an internal ACC order said on Sunday.
The order said firm steps will be taken against those not following the rules.
The order follows several incidents of fake calls to witnesses or accused using the name of ACC. Police suspect that many ACC officials could be behind the incidents.
The order has been issued to specify as to who is an accused and who a witness, ACC commissioner Mohammad Shahbuddin Chuppu told .
"Notices will have to be served only after filling specific forms for the purpose now onwards," he added.
"People panic on hearing of ACC notice. It creates misunderstanding. The commission has taken the decision to prevent recurrence of such incidents," the ACC commissioner said.
An ACC official, requesting anonymity, said they were also directed orally not to communicate with people charged with corruption or witnesses.
"Phone can be used only after permission in special cases."
On Dec 7, ACC issued a statement alerting people against extortion by 'some' of its officials.
The commission advised filing of a general diary or complaint with police and informing ACC through 029352552 or 01730303201 numbers, in case of similar occurrences.
Communications minister Obaidul Quader has said work on Padma bridge project under the private public partnership will begin soon.
"Measures will be taken to commence the work under the PPP as early as possible as per the prime minister's announcement," he said during a visit to the Setu Bhaban on Sunday.
Quader demanded the World Bank provide evidence to back its allegations against Bangladesh because "the accusation is not against the government, it is a bad reputation for the country".
The communications minister said that three bridges -Meghna, Gomati and Kanchpur- have to be saved. Among the three, Meghna bridge is in the most critical state and so Overload Control Machine will be placed there from Dec 17.
The repairs of Gomati and Kanchpur bridges are underway, added the minister.
Quader asked the officials and employees of Setu Bhaban to work "together as a team with commitment and commonsense" and warned that he himself will refrain from committing irregularities and would not let anyone commit any.
"Measures will be taken to commence the work under the PPP as early as possible as per the prime minister's announcement," he said during a visit to the Setu Bhaban on Sunday.
Quader demanded the World Bank provide evidence to back its allegations against Bangladesh because "the accusation is not against the government, it is a bad reputation for the country".
The communications minister said that three bridges -Meghna, Gomati and Kanchpur- have to be saved. Among the three, Meghna bridge is in the most critical state and so Overload Control Machine will be placed there from Dec 17.
The repairs of Gomati and Kanchpur bridges are underway, added the minister.
Quader asked the officials and employees of Setu Bhaban to work "together as a team with commitment and commonsense" and warned that he himself will refrain from committing irregularities and would not let anyone commit any.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has claimed that the present government is working for the government of another country.
Her remarks came on Sunday in reference to the Tipaimukh dam issue in an interview broadcast on BBC Bangla Service.
Terming the incumbent government an 'India-friendly government', Khaleda said, "They [the government] say they are trying to resolve the issue diplomatically. But, in fact, they are handing Bangladesh's everything over to India secretly."
She said, "We've told them [India] many times, we've even written to them. We've also asked them to hold the issue and let the experts from both the countries look into the project. But they did not agree..."
"And our government is silent over the matter," she added.
India's state of Manipur on Oct 22 signed an agreement with state-owned NHPC Ltd and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd to construct the 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric power project in the northeastern state.
BBC on Nov 18 reported that Manipur had signed the contracts to build the controversial dam on Barak river, which flows into Bangladesh as Surma. Bangladeshi media reported widely on the issue that triggered a nationwide criticism of the project.
Responding to a subsequent letter sent by the Bangladesh government inquiring about the project, India assured that the project would not affect the country negatively.
The Indian government had been assuring Bangladesh that it would not take any steps that might jeopardise the 'friendly relationship' between the countries. It also told Bangladesh that they were ready to hold talks on the issue.
But on Dec 4, without consulting Bangladesh, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh declared that his country would go ahead with the construction of the hydroelectricity project.
Many environmentalists fear that the dam would adversely impact, and possibly even drown areas in Sylhet. On the other hand, if the dam stops water, Meghna, Surma and Kushiara and other branches of these rivers in Bangladesh will dry up in lean season.
However, following his Dec 3 meeting with the Indian prime minister to discuss apprehensions among certain quarters here about the project, prime minister's adviser Gowher Rizvi on Dec 5 rubbished the idea that construction of Tipaimukh dam would harm Bangladesh.
He said, "Notions about the adverse impacts of Tipaimukh dam on Bangladesh are baseless."
'GOVT DID NOT COOPERATE'
The main opposition chief squarely blamed the ruling Awami League for all the incidents taking place before and after the state of emergency imposed from Jan 11, 2007 and later BNP boycotting parliament.
She claimed that her party stopped attending parliament after being pushed to the brink by the ruling party.
"I ran in the 2008 general election though I knew it would not be a fair one. I thought a democratic government is better than a non-democratic one. I have been saying that I will cooperate with the government. But the government has been uncooperative since the first day."
Citing an example, Khaleda said the government did not broadcast the oath-taking programme of the BNP MPs in defiance of the age-old tradition.
She claimed on Sunday that the government did not accept even one of the 3,000 notices submitted by her party.
WAR CRIMES TRIAL
Demanding 'complete transparency' in the war crimes trial, the BNP chief said, "We are not taking sides. We want it, too. But this trial should meet the international standards. Trials cannot be held with a debatable person presiding as the judge."
BNP has since long been calling 'partisan' the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which came into being for trying war crimes committed in 1971. The main opposition also called the attention of the United Nations secretary-general in this regard during his visit to Bangladesh last month.
The present government on Mar 25 last year formed the ICT, lawyers' panel and investigation agency to try the war criminals.
Her remarks came on Sunday in reference to the Tipaimukh dam issue in an interview broadcast on BBC Bangla Service.
Terming the incumbent government an 'India-friendly government', Khaleda said, "They [the government] say they are trying to resolve the issue diplomatically. But, in fact, they are handing Bangladesh's everything over to India secretly."
She said, "We've told them [India] many times, we've even written to them. We've also asked them to hold the issue and let the experts from both the countries look into the project. But they did not agree..."
"And our government is silent over the matter," she added.
India's state of Manipur on Oct 22 signed an agreement with state-owned NHPC Ltd and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd to construct the 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric power project in the northeastern state.
BBC on Nov 18 reported that Manipur had signed the contracts to build the controversial dam on Barak river, which flows into Bangladesh as Surma. Bangladeshi media reported widely on the issue that triggered a nationwide criticism of the project.
Responding to a subsequent letter sent by the Bangladesh government inquiring about the project, India assured that the project would not affect the country negatively.
The Indian government had been assuring Bangladesh that it would not take any steps that might jeopardise the 'friendly relationship' between the countries. It also told Bangladesh that they were ready to hold talks on the issue.
But on Dec 4, without consulting Bangladesh, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh declared that his country would go ahead with the construction of the hydroelectricity project.
Many environmentalists fear that the dam would adversely impact, and possibly even drown areas in Sylhet. On the other hand, if the dam stops water, Meghna, Surma and Kushiara and other branches of these rivers in Bangladesh will dry up in lean season.
However, following his Dec 3 meeting with the Indian prime minister to discuss apprehensions among certain quarters here about the project, prime minister's adviser Gowher Rizvi on Dec 5 rubbished the idea that construction of Tipaimukh dam would harm Bangladesh.
He said, "Notions about the adverse impacts of Tipaimukh dam on Bangladesh are baseless."
'GOVT DID NOT COOPERATE'
The main opposition chief squarely blamed the ruling Awami League for all the incidents taking place before and after the state of emergency imposed from Jan 11, 2007 and later BNP boycotting parliament.
She claimed that her party stopped attending parliament after being pushed to the brink by the ruling party.
"I ran in the 2008 general election though I knew it would not be a fair one. I thought a democratic government is better than a non-democratic one. I have been saying that I will cooperate with the government. But the government has been uncooperative since the first day."
Citing an example, Khaleda said the government did not broadcast the oath-taking programme of the BNP MPs in defiance of the age-old tradition.
She claimed on Sunday that the government did not accept even one of the 3,000 notices submitted by her party.
WAR CRIMES TRIAL
Demanding 'complete transparency' in the war crimes trial, the BNP chief said, "We are not taking sides. We want it, too. But this trial should meet the international standards. Trials cannot be held with a debatable person presiding as the judge."
BNP has since long been calling 'partisan' the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which came into being for trying war crimes committed in 1971. The main opposition also called the attention of the United Nations secretary-general in this regard during his visit to Bangladesh last month.
The present government on Mar 25 last year formed the ICT, lawyers' panel and investigation agency to try the war criminals.
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