NBR unfreezes Robi accounts

The National Board of Revenue on Thursday unfroze the bank accounts of the mobile phone operator Robi following its undertakings to pay the unpaid value-added tax and supplementary duty worth Tk 18.73 crore on Sunday.

The Large Taxpayers Unit of the NBR sent letters to managing directors of all commercial banks to unfreeze the bank accounts.

The decision came after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed for three days the High Court order that stayed the decision of the LTU to freeze all the bank accounts of the mobile phone operator on charge of dodging VAT and SD.

LTU on Monday put a freeze on operation of bank accounts of Robi.

LTU deputy commissioner Md Bodruzzaman Munshi told New Age that the mobile operator gave an undertaking to pay the demanded VAT and SD on Sunday.

So, there is no necessity to continue the suspension on bank accounts, he said.

A four-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, on Thursday, passed the order to freeze Robi accounts for three days after hearing a petition filed by NBR.

Earlier on Wednesday, the NBR filed a petition challenging the High Court stay order.

The HC on Tuesday stayed the decision of the National Board of Revenue  to freeze all the bank accounts of mobile phone operator Robi on charge of dodging VAT after hearing a petition filed by the mobile phone company.

Barrister Tanjib-ul Islam moved for Robi while Deputy Attorney General SM Moniruzzaman represented the state in the court.

Earlier on Monday, the NBR directed all the commercial banks to freeze the bank accounts of Robi for the next three days saying the telecom operator evaded Tk 18.72 crore Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty.

The Large Taxpayers Unit under the Value Added Tax wing of the NBR sent letters to all the banks mentioning that the VAT on account of unpaid SD as per trial balance is worth Tk 10,35,26,095, while VAT on space and establishment rent is worth Tk 6,74, 83, 761, SD and VAT on less disclosed SIM (subscriber identity module) amounts to Tk 81, 06, 202 and unpaid VAT on inter-connection service charge of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited is Tk 81, 71, 974.

Meanwhile, Robi said it has successfully concluded outstanding administrative and process matters with the NBR.

As the second largest mobile communications provider for Bangladesh, Robi has demonstrated the highest standards of governance and commitment to contribute to the development of the Bangladesh telecommunication industry.

The company will continue to work closely with relevant authorities in an open and transparent manner to ensure strict adherence to regulations and laws governing business and industry in Bangladesh, it said.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net