Khulna: The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has successfully collected Tk 80.64 crore in revenue during the fiscal year 2024-25, reflecting a 2.97 percent increase from the prior fiscal year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, detailed records from the KCC Revenue Section show that the bulk of the revenue, amounting to Tk 50.41 crore, was derived from holding taxes, conservancy, and electricity. This contribution marked a 4.51 percent rise compared to the previous year. However, revenue from the estate section saw a decrease of 2.79 percent, totaling Tk 17.26 crore.
The data also highlights a significant surge in trade license revenue, which increased sharply by 95.92 percent to Tk 6.58 crore. Transport license revenues rose by 21.77 percent, reaching Tk 3.08 crore, while income from kitchen (bazar) markets increased by 6.93 percent to Tk 3.32 crore. In the previous fiscal year 2023-24, the corporation collected a total of Tk 77.67 crore, with various contributions from different sections.
The revenue target for FY 2024-25 was set at Tk 82.41 crore, as announced in June 2024 by the previous KCC administration. The target allocations included Tk 45 crore from holding, conservancy, and electricity; Tk 23.41 crore from the estate section; Tk 6.50 crore from trade licenses; Tk 3.50 crore from transport licenses; and Tk 4 crore from kitchen markets.
KCC Revenue Officer Abdul Mazed, speaking to BSS, indicated that the city corporation managed to collect 97.85 percent of the targeted amount. He noted an almost 3 percent growth in revenue collection compared to the previous year and mentioned efforts to improve civic services using local resources.
Despite the achievement, KCC is still owed Tk 47.95 crore in unpaid dues from nine organizations. These include the Khulna Development Authority, Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Navy, and several now-defunct factories and mills, such as Dhaka Match Company and Sonali Jute Mills.
KCC Administrator and Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar, at a recent budget preparatory meeting, praised the revenue performance. He emphasized that the city achieved this milestone without increasing tax rates, attributing success to the implementation of online systems for holding tax and trade license payments. Sarkar assured that the upcoming budget would be realistic and aimed at enhancing civic services without additional tax burdens.