Aggrieved traders in Lakshmipur city have closed their shops and protested against alleged harassment by VAT officials.
On December 19 (Monday) at around 3:30 pm, district customs, excise and VAT officials conducted a raid in the Azim Shah Market area of the city. During this, the traders alleged that the cash of the businessmen was opened and the account books, cash memos and order copies were forcibly taken away. The traders closed their shops and protested on the streets. At one stage, the general secretary of the Traders' Association, Abul Kalam Azad, assured them of a solution to the issue, but the traders withdrew their protest.
It is learnt that in the afternoon, 4/5 members including Assistant Revenue Officer Muhammad Shahadat Hossain and 4/5 members led by JM Shoaib Rumi, Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Divisional Customs Excise and VAT Office, launched a raid in Lakshmipur town. During this, they raided establishments named Riya Enterprise, New Lakshmipur Purda Gallery, Meghna Enterprise and Mac World and forcibly took away account books, cash memos and order copies.
Local businessmen said that VAT officials suddenly entered their shop without any reason in the name of a raid on their establishment. During this time, the officials took away the company's accounts and necessary documents. Businessman Mohammad Bablu said, I was not in the shop when VAT officials entered my establishment. At this time, the employees asked me to wait a little. But without waiting, they took away all the documents including the accounts of my shop and misbehaved with the employees.
New Lakshmipur Curtain Gallery Proprietor Mohammad Hasan said, "VAT officials entered my establishment and misbehaved with the employees. During this time, they took important documents from the cash of my establishment. According to the rules, VAT officers do not have the right to touch the cash of a business establishment. I want justice for these officials."
Abul Kalam Azad, general secretary of Lakshmipur Traders' Association, said, "The traders were angry over the VAT raid and closed their shops and took to the streets in protest. At that time, we calmed the aggrieved traders and talked to the VAT officials. I hope the problem will be resolved."
JM Shoaib Rumi, officer-in-charge of Lakshmipur Divisional Customs Excise and VAT Office, said, "We brought account books, cash memos and order copies from some business establishments. However, no one was misbehaved."
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