A total of 101 consumers on Friday scooped Tk 1.22 million on the lottery of electronic fiscal device (EFD) invoices they got after purchases this January.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) introduced the monthly lottery scheme for the first time in Bangladesh to encourage consumers to pay value-added tax (VAT).
NBR chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem attended the lottery draw programme hosted at the NRB headquarters in the capital's Segunbagicha area.
He said EFD machines have been installed at different business houses and shops to ensure transparency in the VAT collection process.
Citing that the devices will be installed at 10,000 business entities by June 2021, Mr Muneem said, "Many organisations collect VAT, but the process isn't fully transparent."
The revenue board is thus expanding its EFD project throughout the country, he added.
About Friday's lottery, he said those who purchased goods between January 01 and January 31 and paid through EFD were considered eligible for the draw.
The receipts the consumers got after purchasing anything from a shop having the device were used as coupon for the lottery.
The first prize of Tk 100,000 went to invoice number 002221GEMMWAK039 while invoice number 001820SPXYAOH781 won the second price of Tk 50,000.
The third prize went to five people having invoice numbers 002120DXEDECM637, 000821FSCBXOM039, 000121QTFUAPX752, 000021HEFLEHY957 and 002821CUJXPDM679 respectively.
Besides, another 94 persons scooped Tk 10,000 each on the lottery.
From now on, lottery on VAT invoices will take place on the fifth day of every month, the NBR chief disclosed.
ahb_mcj2009@yahoo.com