Savings, instruments
A press release quoting Hon. Finance Minister about tax deduction on Savings certificates, appearing in The Daily Star on July 9, 2010, attracted my attention.
In his explanation, the Honourable Finance Minister said “…the new tax rate introduced this fiscal year would not apply to the savings certificates that mature before July 1, 2010.” In support, a statement by an official of the NBR has made it all the more clear than one understands. It said , “ It was clearly stated in the money bill that the new decision would not be effective for the certificates that matured before July 1.”
If this is so as stated, why we public then, continue to suffer with the instrument in question, at the hands of the relevant authorities, for instance, the Post Offices and/or the Savings Bureau. When approached, they expressed their helplessness in the matter. In the absence of a clear government directive to them in this regard, they are not able in any way to have our claims met in whatever manner we see, in the press.
Such was the experience as myself and wife, had this morning, 11 July'10. Together we went to GPO for getting cashed our savings certificates that matured end of June this year (last FY). I took with me a paper cutting of the said explanation by the Hon. FM in case it was needed. . At this, my wife laughed and said that it would not work, as the GPO might refuse us, on the plea of not getting the necessary government orders. Retorting to her I replied, “Were you not aware of the “Digital Bangladesh” we now live in?” But on reaching GPO, I could realize that my wife was right in her point that we did not come out of our old traditions as yet. Some advised us to wait for a week.
So we wait to get things done. Hope and pray that this would be looked into by the finance ministry and the NBR.
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