Chittagong City Corporation’s highest revenue collection from a single sector in its history, Mayor Dr. Shahadat accepts a check of Tk 198 crore for port holding tax

For the first time in the history of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), a precedent has been set for the highest revenue collection from a single sector. CHC Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has accepted a check of Tk 198 crore 26 lakh 94 thousand 651 for the outstanding holding tax of the Chittagong Port Authority. The Mayor gave this information at a press conference organized at the CHC office at Tiger Pass on Monday (June 29) noon and outlined a detailed plan for spending this revenue in various sectors of urban development.
The Mayor said that this is not only revenue collection, but also an important milestone in establishing the fair rights of the people of Chittagong. For a long time, Chittagong Port had been paying much less holding tax than the actual assessment. After assuming office, he raised the issue seriously and took the initiative to collect fair tax as per the law.
He said that the City Corporation does not charge any compensation from the port. However, the port’s heavy vehicles with a capacity of 40 to 50 tons are regularly using the roads built by the City Corporation. As a result, an additional Tk 400 to 500 crore has to be spent every year just for road renovation. Therefore, no additional benefits have been demanded from the port, but only the legally determined fair holding tax has been demanded.
Dr. Shahadat said that from February to April of this year, at the request of the Chittagong Port Authority, a total of six senior officials, three each from both the organizations, conducted a joint assessment. In this, an assessment of about 19.7 million square feet of facilities was completed. Since the joint assessment was signed by officials from both sides, it is legally acceptable.
He said that although the port authority has applied to the divisional commissioner, as per the provisions of the City Corporation Act, 75 percent of the prescribed tax has to be deposited as a prerequisite for accepting the application. As per that provision, a cheque of Tk 198.26 crore has been given to the City Corporation today. He expressed hope that after the legal process, the City Corporation will also get the remaining 25 percent.
The mayor said that this revenue will be spent for the welfare of the city people. First of all, priority will be given to renovating and rebuilding the buildings of risky and dilapidated educational institutions, so that the safety of students can be ensured. Initiatives will be taken to provide educational assistance to poor and meritorious students and strengthen the education sector. This money will be spent on improving the quality of city roads, constructing new RCC roads, installing street lights, constructing culverts and retaining walls, procuring modern waste management equipment, strengthening mosquito control activities and purchasing high-quality medicines, as well as improving the quality of citizen services.
The Mayor also highlighted the plan to convert an important corridor from Dewanhat to the airport, about 15 kilometers long, into an RCC road. He said that a plan has been taken to construct an RCC road at a cost of about Tk 600 crore and a Dewanhat bridge at a cost of another Tk 250 to 300 crore. A development proposal (DPP) of about Tk 850 to 900 crore is being prepared. Considering the pressure of heavy vehicles, he mentioned that upgrading this corridor to an RCC road is the need of the hour.
The Mayor said that apart from Chittagong Port, Chittagong City Council has a total holding tax arrears of about Tk 197 crore 53 lakh to various government ministries and agencies. Out of this, last year’s arrears are about Tk 154 crore 68 lakh and the current fiscal year’s demand is about Tk 42 crore 84 lakh. DO letters have already been sent to these agencies and applications have been made for expeditious payment of the arrears.
He said that the work of completely digitizing the revenue management of Chittagong City Council is also progressing. Modern technology will be used in residential and commercial holding tax management to ensure transparency and accountability in revenue collection. In addition, initiatives will be taken to collect fair taxes by revaluing large commercial establishments, markets, hotels, restaurants and other establishments.
The Mayor said that in many cases, tax and surcharge exemptions are being given within the legal limits, considering the socio-economic reality of residential taxpayers. However, in the case of commercial establishments, everyone will have to pay fair taxes as per the law. The City Corporation will take strict measures so that no establishment can evade taxes.
He said that there is no alternative to collecting fair revenue to make the Chittagong City Corporation a self-reliant and financially strong institution. This money comes from the people and will be spent for the welfare of the people. Therefore, the most appropriate use of every taka will be ensured. The Mayor thanked the concerned ministries, officials and all concerned for their cooperation in collecting this historic revenue. At the same time, he said, this achievement has started a new chapter in establishing the fair rights of the people of Chittagong.
Also present at the time were CHC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Md. Ashraful Amin, Chief Cleaning Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Revenue Officer Sarwar Kamal, Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman, Chief Accounts Officer Humayun Kabir Chowdhury, Regional Executive Officer Abhishek Das, Tax Officer A. K. M. Salahuddin and others.