Bangladesh, Oct. 7 -- Corporate kingpins see Tk 150 billion in VAT refunds long stuck and fresh demands barred as the government revenue authority's digital platform stays dysfunctional.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) high-ups, however, harbour doubts about accuracy of such huge claim buildups and say scrutiny is needed before claim settlement.

Exporters and manufacturers deplore that they cannot also submit new applications for VAT refunds as the VAT-refund module remains disabled.

Refund of VAT, literally, remains stalled due to the disabled online module that is mandatory for submitting refund applications.

Businesses without bonded-warehouse facilities are the worst sufferers.

Since November last year, filing refund application...