The decision of imposing excise duty on bank account in the proposed budget will not be cancelled as the people who keep Tk 1 lakh or its up in bank are affluent enough in the society, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said today.

Accounts with balance between Tk 1 lakh and Tk 10 lakh may be slapped with Tk 800 excise tax at any time of a year.

“It is very difficult to give a definition of rich men. But I know the people who keep Tk 1 lakh or more into their bank accounts are capable of bearing the expenditure of the excise duty,” Muhith said at a post-budget press conference in the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium this afternoon.

Responding to a query, he said the price of rice has gone up recently due to the impact of the natural calamity instead of the impact of the proposed national budget.

“We will control the market through importing rice,” he added.

Responding to a query about 15 percent uniform VAT, the finance minister again claimed that the prices of goods will not go up as a total of 1043 products have been kept out of purview of the VAT.

Shahjalal Islami Bank Chairman Engineer Md Towhidur Rahman presides over the 247th meeting of the board of the bank at its head office in the capital recently.

Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited (SJIBL) organised the 247th meeting of the board of directors at its head office in the capital recently.

 The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the board Engineer Md Towhidur Rahman, said a press release. The board approved a number of investment proposals and reviewed various issues relating to policy matter of the bank.

Vice-Chairman of the board Mohiuddin Ahmed, directors Anwer Hossain Khan, Akkas Uddin Mollah, Md Sanaullah Shahid, Mohammed Younus, Fakir Akhtaruzzaman, Khandaker Sakib Ahmed, Mohammed Golam Quddus were present in the meeting.