Tax hike: Legal notice on Jessore Poura Chairman

The association served the notice terming it 'illegal' and 'misuse of power.'

Jessore Pourashava sent notices to all residents in the municipality about enhancement of holding tax without considering size and nature of houses, standard of life of people and sources of income of residents effective from July last. The holding tax was enhanced four to five times after five years.

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Most of the lawyers here said that the burden of new tax on people at this critical juncture of economic condition is 'illegal'. They said that the municipality chairman had violated Section 152 of the Pourashava Ordinance misusing his power.

It is interesting to note that quarterly holding tax of one Syed Abdul Baset of Holding No 32/90 was fixed at Tk 810 while quarterly holding tax of Syed Abdul Kader on R N Road (Holding No 32/28) was fixed at Tk 742 and quarterly holding tax of Shamsun Nahar on the same road was fixed at Tk 675.

Although the notice was served on October 11, the tax enhancement was effective from July 1.

However, the Administrative Officer of Jessore Pourashava termed enhancement in holding tax 'lawful and appropriate'.

Advocate Ahmed Ali and Fatema Begum sent the legal notice on behalf of the association to the chairman.