Economy
Japan Medical Equipment stuck at CH for non-payment of taxes
Tk 77cr of medical equipment from Japan are stuck at Chattogram sea port and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka due to non-payment of taxes, an official of the finance ministry said.
The Department of Health Services under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry just recent wrote a letter to the finance division of the ministry of finance urging to disburse Tk 22.39 crore in taxes, VAT and Advanced Income Tax soon for the clearance of the medical equipment donated by Japan under Japanese Grant Aid Economic and Social Development Programme, 2022.
The dilemma has been frustrating for the donor agency that also could impact future such assistance, officials said.
It should be noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to visit Japan in a few days and if the matter is not resolved before her trip, it could be embarrassing for both of the governments.
The health services division letter also said it is not possible to pay the immediate expenses such as port charges, transportation expenses, taxes etc. by the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD).
Because of such delay, all the incidental expenses including tax, VAT, CD and AIT ultimately needed to be paid by the finance ministry, some officials argue.
In August 2020, Japan confirmed JPY338.247 billion, equivalent to $3.2 billion, in assistance for Bangladesh to implement seven development projects.
The largest-ever single loan package is now being operated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
Japan and Bangladesh signed the exchange of notes on the Japanese grant for the Economic and Social Development Programme, worth $10 million, for medical equipment that included a CT scanner and an x-ray machine on July 16, 2020. This aid focused on the medical and health sectors currently combating the novel coronavirus.
This year, the Islamic Foundation has set the Fitra minimum at Tk 115 with a maximum of Tk 2, 640.
The National Committee on Fitra set the donation rate at a meeting on Sunday (2n April) led by committee President Hafez Mufti Mohammad Ruhul Amin, also the khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The amount of Fitra for all Muslim people has been determined based on the market prices of flour, dates, raisin, cheese, and some other essential items.
Fitra, also known as Zakat al-fitr, is the compulsory charity that Muslims have to give to the poor before the Eid day prayer congregation or Jamaat. Without giving these alms, their Eid is considered incomplete.
Dhaka’s air quality is ‘unhealthy’ on Sunday morning (2nd April).
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 125 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 10th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Thailand’s Chiang Mai, China’s Beijing and India’s Delhi occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 254, 166 and 160, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy’, AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’, while a reading of 301+ is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
The price of gold in the bangladesh national market has been set at yet another all-time high, just below Tk 1 lakh per bhori.
Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS) announced a hike of Tk 1,516 for 22-carat gold, setting the new price at Tk99,144 per bhori, effective from Sunday (2nd April).
BAJUS in a press release on Saturday said the price of 22-carat gold with hallmark would be sold at Tk 99,144. Apart from this, the price of hallmarked 21-carat gold bars will be Tk 94,653, 18 carats will be Tk 81,123 and traditional gold bars will be Tk 67,593.
However, the price of another precious metal, silver, was left unchanged.
On Saturday, a bhori of 22-carat gold ornaments was sold at Tk 97,628, 21-carat at Tk 93,195, 18-carat at Tk 79,898 and traditional style gold ornaments are being sold at Tk 66,543.
In other words, from tomorrow, 22-carat gold bars will be increased by Tk 1,516, 21-carat by Tk 1,458, 18-carat by Tk 1,225, and traditional gold bars by Tk 1,500.
