The 'National Income Tax Day-2021' will be marked around the country today (Tuesday), with the goal of raising public awareness about the importance of paying income tax on a regular basis for the country's development.

Today, at 11 a.m., the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will offer a seminar in its conference room to commemorate the day. Minister of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haque will be the primary guest, while FBCCI President Md Jasim Uddin will be a special guest, according to BSS.

The theme of this year's tax day is 'Mujib Barsher Angikar, Sabai Mile Debo Kar (Mujib year's commitment, we all will pay tax"). President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages on the occasion, wishing success of the day.

In their messages, the President and the Prime Minister greeted all officials and employees of the NBR and tax-paying individuals marking the income tax day.

"Income tax is not only a major source of internal resource collection, but it is also a way of establishing economic and social justice in the society," President M Abdul Hamid in his message.

Bangladesh is moving forward to turn into a developed prosperous country through implementing Vision-2041 like the successful implementation of Vision 2021, he said, adding there is no alternative to mobilize domestic resources for implementing the Vision-2041.

Laying emphasis on creating awareness about payment of income tax, the President said if awareness about payment of income tax is created, it would not only help dispel fear about income tax, it would also flourish the culture of income tax payment in the society.

He said the officials of the tax division have been delivering tax services relentlessly to enrich the state treasury amid the coronavirus pandemic which is appreciable.

As part of encouraging taxpayers to pay tax, the NBR has honored a total of 666 top taxpayers, including 141 long-term taxpayers, across the country and gave them tax cards.

The President urged the taxpayers to pay their income tax on time to continue the development activities of the country.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the NBR has been working relentlessly for the successful implementation of the government's development programs by ensuring a business and investment-friendly environment as well as enriching the state's exchequer. NBR is working to develop a revenue-friendly culture in the country, various innovative activities of the organization have already been expanded from the national level to the rural areas, she added.

Someone has appealed to the European Union for a ban on the Bangladesh government. However, no information was found that the European Union accepted the request or took it seriously.

The man has appealed to the EU for sanctions on Bangladesh, alleging that human rights have been violated in Bangladesh and that human rights are being violated by the RAB, including disappearances. How reasonable is this kind of application or who is behind it is still unknown. 

Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of the disbanded Hefazat-e-Islam committee, has been brought to Narayanganj court to testify in the third phase of the rape case filed at Narayanganj's Sonargaon police station.

He was brought to Adalpara from Kashimpur Jail through a strict security cordon at 9am on Tuesday (January 25).

Testimony in the court of Narayanganj Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal Judge Nazmul Haque Shyamal will begin at 12 noon.

Additional security has been taken at the courthouse based on this testimony. Everyone is being interrogated and checked at the entrance of the court.

Earlier on December 13, Royal Resort Supervisor Abdul Aziz, Reception Officer Nazmul Islam Anik and Ansar Guard Ratan Baral testified against Mamunul in the second phase.

Incidentally, on April 3, 2021, Mamunul Haque was staying with a woman at the Royal Resort in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. At that time local Awami League leaders and activists came and surrounded Mamunul Haque. Later, local Hefazat activists and supporters vandalized the resort and snatched him away. Later, on April 30, the woman filed a rape case against Mamunul Haque at Sonargaon police station.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) Crime and Intelligence Division has arrested 30 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs.

From 6 am on Monday (January 24) to 6 am on Tuesday (January 25), raids were carried out in different parts of the capital to arrest and seize drugs.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of DMP's Media and Public Relations Department Mohammad Faruk Hossain said this on Tuesday morning.

He said 11,227 pieces of yaba, 109 grams of 330 packets of pure heroin and 2 kg105 grams of cannabis were seized from the 30 arrested persons.

The police official also said that 26 cases have been filed against the arrested persons under the Narcotics Control Act.

Nine zebras have died recently at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park. The zebras died between January 2 to Monday, January 24. There were a total of 31 zebras in the park. However, after the death of 9, the number now stands at 22. Thus, the death of nine zebras is considered mysterious by many. Many concerned are fearing that this is a planned assassination by poisoning. The safari park authorities called an expert meeting on Tuesday (January 25th) to look into the cause of death of nine zebras in a short period of time.

Confirming the matter, Safari Park Project Director Md. Zahidul Kabir said the meeting would be held considering all the possible angles including food poisoning, application of poison, virus-bacterial attack etc. It will include specialist veterinarians, researchers and park-related people.

Sources related to the park said that after the death of a zebra on January 2, body samples were sent to the quality control laboratory at Savar in Dhaka and to the laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. The results of the experiment have already come.

A visit to the zebra enclosure in the safari park reveals that they inhabit a large area inside the safari. There are artificial lakes and natural forests in the zebra pastures. There are special containers for feeding. Wild beasts and zebras eat there at the same time. In addition to the food provided, the zebras eat grass in the pasture. Monkeys also roam freely across zebra pastures.

According to park sources, zebra food is basically a variety of grasses. An organization called Mahbub Enterprise provides zebra grass in the safari park. In addition to grazing grass, the zebras are also fed by bringing grass from different parts of the country through suppliers.

Admitting the deaths of 9 zebras in just 3 weeks, the officer-in-charge of Bangabandhu Safari Park, Md. Tabibur Rahman, said that the matter was definitely unusual. A total of nine zebras have died between January 2 and last Friday. A meeting of emergency experts has been called on Tuesday to look into the matter.

Incidentally, this safari park located at Sreepur in Gazipur has been thriving on zebra sails for a long time. New guests were coming to the zebra sail for some time. There were plans to send some zebras to the national zoo from here as the number continued to increase. But such a sudden death has made everyone worried.

A motorcyclist named Mohammad Helal Uddin (35) was killed in a bus crash at Ramu in Cox's Bazar district. The deceased was identified as Helal Uddin, son of Abul Bashar of Baraitali union under Chakaria upazila. He was working as the headmaster of Sultania Noorani Academy, Kharulia Master Para, Jhilangja Union, Sadar.

The accident took place in the Techipul station area of the upazila around 10:30 pm on Monday (January 24).

Locals said Helal Uddin was hit by a Khagrachhari-bound bus in the Techipul area of Chakmarkul Union on his way back to the madrasa on a motorcycle from Ramu at night. The locals rescued him and took him to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Ramu Crossing Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Abdur Rob confirmed the matter and said the body is in the hospital morgue. The bus involved in the accident has been seized and legal action is being taken.