220 to 110 converter

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First you must know that most American appliances are designed to run off of 110 volts and Most German appliances are designed to run off of 220 volts. This means that if you plug an American stereo, razor, computer, etc into a German outlet it will destroy it!! The prongs are different so it is hard to make this mistake but outlet adapters are sold and this does happen often. The reason the adapters are sold is because some American appliances are Dual-Voltage and can run off of 110 or 220.

To find out if your appliance is Dual-Voltage you must look at the power information on the appliance, either on the appliance itself or on the power box on the cord. If you still haven’t found the information refer to your users manual. If your appliance is not dual voltage the only option you have in order to use it in Germany is to purchase a power converter.

Power converters can be purchased on the world-wide web (of course), or select appliance and hardware stores. If you are somehow allowed access to a U.S. Army base in Germany, you can purchase one at the Post Exchange.

When selecting your power converter be sure that it is converting 220 volts to 110 volts and not the other way around. Next, you need to select the size of the power converter in which you will need for your device(s) this should be relatively self explanatory. Check the power output of the device and be sure it is equal to or below, below is recommended, the voltage of the converter.

Using certain clocks/alarm clocks can run slower or faster than usual even if the clock is dual-voltage. The only way to avoid this is to be sure the clock is of good quality and relatively new. If the clock is plugged into a power converter this should not be an issue.

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There are many people out there that will justify anything that they can so they can feel good about doing something, or having something in their possession. The question is, does nitrous have any practical application on a diesel engine, but first a little information about nitrous oxide.

The Nitrous kits for diesels that we run are pretty easy to install, with all of the wiring and solenoids self contained in two boxes, with all necessary hardware and fittings. And can even be installed if you have NOT O-ringed your heads, although if you do have stock heads you should limit the amount of nitrous being sprayed.

Nitrous Oxide when burned at high temperatures, releases oxygen. With nitrous burning it allows for a 50% saturation of oxygen, while atmospheric air only allows for about a 20% saturation of oxygen. The more oxygen, the more power. Nitrous dramatically increases power instantly. Nitrous also will dramatically lower the exhaust gas temperatures. Propane will also lower exhaust temperature some, but nothing like nitrous will. But does it have any real application?

Nitrous could be used in very small shots to keep things cool and give a little power, but the price would be way too much for the gain that you would get. Other than that, nitrous is friend only to those who are challenged to a drag race, or for the man who just has to be the fastest. There is really no towing application for nitrous oxide. With anything that will increase power so dramatically you need to take precautions as well, and should have a full set of gauges and the ability to monitor all of your engines parameters. So in conclusion, does running a nitrous oxide system have any real application on a diesel engine? Answered as an individual that has to have all the bells and whistles, I’m going to have to answer with an emphatic YES! So its only real purpose is for fun and racing.

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There are certainly no doubts about the popularity of the GPS device in the present age. But like every other thing this device too has witnessed gradual development and has evolved over a period of time. A reminiscent of the earlier days of the GPS is the GPS Loran. LORAN or Long Range Navigation is a navigation system designed for the land. This navigation system makes use of low frequency radio transmitters. These radio transmitters in turn use multiple transmitters that determine the location and/or speed of the receiver.

With the advent of the GPS and a number of players in the market offering the device, there has been a steep decrease in the popularity of the LORAN navigator. Nevertheless, the device continues to be in use even today. These days, it is the LORAN-C that is being commonly used. This navigation unit operates in the low frequency portion of the EM spectrum that ranges from 90 to 110 kHz. The United States, Japan and several European countries are using the LORAN-C.

The LORAN-C transmitters operate at peak powers that range from 100 kilowatts to four megawatts. Now, this is quite comparable to the longwave broadcasting stations. These transmitters make use of mast radiators that are insulated from ground. The height of these radiators varies between 190 and 220 meters. The LORAN-C transmitter Carolina Beach makes use of a free-standing antenna tower.

CHAYKA is another navigation system that is on similar lines of LORAN and is being used by Russia. Despite its diminishing usage, there are quite attempts being made to enhance and re-popularize LORAN. This is primarily because the Loran GPS is known as a reliable and simple system.

The development of the Loran is quite interesting. The Loran came into being during the time of the World War II. It was an American development of the British GEE radio navigation system. But the range of the Loran far superseded that of GEE. The LORAN systems had a range of 1,200 miles as compared to 400 miles of the GEE. The US Navy and the Royal Navy made extensive use of this device.

Though a lot of scope is being seen in the loran, it suffers from various limitations that are yet to be overcome. Electronic effects of weather and the ionospheric effects of sunrise and sunset affect the Loran system to a great extent. Being a radio based system; the Loran is affected big time by magnetic storms. Thus there is a need to make the Loran more robust and more adaptable.

There is a need to work out on the GPS Loran and the few flaws that it has. Its reliability and easy usage can taken advantage of provide the required efforts are made.

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Stackable washers and dryers come in a variety of sizes and uses for that matter. They are very popular when space is at a premium which is usually the case in dorms, one room apartments or even mobile homes. They are very popular because of their size and versatility. In this article I will hopefully give you some tips if you are considering buying one of these units.

Stackable washers and dryers generally come in two sizes, 27 inches wide and 24 inches wide. The advantage of the 24 inch model is that it can usually fit into a closet so that it can be hidden out of site easily. The downside to this is of course capacity. You will be able to fit more clothes into the 27 inch model so you need to take this into account when you are purchasing your washer dryer unit.

You will also find that most stackable units also require a 220 volt power outlet which may mean that you have to get an electrician in to install your appliance. You will also find some that require a standard 110 volt outlet which mean an electrician is not required so it is worth finding out which voltage your unit uses as often you can save the expense of a electrician by opting for the 110 unit, however depending on where you purchase they may include free installation so be sure to check with the retailer. Also be sure to get a comprehensive warranty with your stackable washer dryer as they tend to have a lot of moving parts which can quickly wear down.

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F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were not only best friends, bitter rivals, and fellow members of the Lost Generation literary movement, they also helped redefine American identity in a post-world-war world. Rather than simply construct a new sense of nationalism, however, they actively dissected and deflated American archetypes such as the self-made man and the hardened gangster. And what better time to question people’s sense of reality than in the 1920s, when everyone was simultaneously depressed about WWI, filthy rich from the stock market, and illegally drunk for an entire decade?

Published in 1922, just after the postwar recession ended, Fitzgerald’s “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” is a sharp criticism of the lavish 1920s lifestyle Fitzgerald would later become all too acquainted with. John Unger, a boarding school kid, is spending the summer at his friend Percy Washington’s estate in the middle of nowhere, Montana. More specifically, it’s located “where the United States ends” – figuratively speaking, anyway, as the US government has no knowledge of its existence. (And since the chateau sits on a flawless diamond the size of a small mountain, the Washington family intends to keep it that way.)

The family’s opulence is “beyond human wish, or dream,” and John is so overwhelmed that he can barely stay conscious. The fact that the estate is named “El Dorado” after a mythical Amazonian city of gold not only heightens the undiscoverable unreality of the place, but also hints at the Spanish conquistadors’ exploitative pursuit of riches; creepily, the Washingtons house some 250 slaves, whom they have tricked into believing that the North lost the Civil War. This universe is so tightly controlled, in fact, that when a landscaper, gardener, architect, designer, and poet try to “agree upon the location of a fountain” together, they lose their minds and are all sent to an asylum.

What really makes the situation absurd, however, is not its otherworldliness, but the fact that everyone living there is so blasé about it. The family considers some of their nicest things “old junk.” Jasmine is so spoiled that she pushed her father down the stairs as a child and no one batted an eye. The men try to keep killing outsiders to a minimum because it “upsets” the women. Mr. Washington refers to the incident where he murdered his own brother as “unfortunate.” Captured soldiers are kept imprisoned on the grounds because it’s the practical thing to do. The list goes on.

The complete emotional compartmentalization characteristic of The Diamond as Big as the Ritz is the same thing that makes Hemingway’s 1927 classic American crime story The Killers tick. The story starts with two badly dressed men named Max and Al entering a restaurant and attempting to order dinner. Since it isn’t six o’clock yet, however, they’re restricted to lunch menu items only. They bicker with the manager for a few pages, harass the patrons, and then lead everyone to the back room and take over the restaurant for about two hours. Turns out they’re both hitmen on the mission to kill some boxer, who presumably didn’t cooperate in a rigged fight. Yes, this sounds remarkably like the plot of Pulp Fiction.

The totally surreal mood of the story comes not only from the fact that Max and Al are two trained killers who spend the first quarter of the story arguing over ginger ale and egg salad sandwiches, but also from the strange setup of the restaurant itself. The clock, for example, is said to be twenty minutes fast – and since Hemingway doesn’t always specify whether times mentioned are restaurant time or real time, both the readers and the killers are equally disoriented by it. (Not to mention, the only thing more surreal than an incorrect clock is a melting one.)

Weirder still is the fact that Max spends his whole evening sitting directly facing the manager, but conducts all their conversations via the mirror behind the counter. If that isn’t reality in reverse, consider the fact that Max gets so bored waiting to make his kill that he actually drops the ol,’ see any good movies lately? What’s more, when Nick, one of the restaurant patrons, finally tracks down the boxer to warn him about the assassins, the guy can’t be bothered to defend himself. So much for fighting spirit. Or the glorification the American gangster, for that matter.

By juxtaposing wild situations with totally apathetic characters, Fitzgerald and Hemingway create scenarios that feel impossible but are all too real; what sticks in the readers’ throats is not that crimes are committed, but that they’re committed by totally ordinary characters. The zillionaires are accustomed to their family routines. The hitmen don’t want cold sandwiches for dinner. Under any other circumstances, these behaviors wouldn’t give us a moment’s pause, but against the backdrop of murder and destruction, it hits uncomfortably close to home. There’s a reason we like our movie villains with eyepatches and evil cackles, or dissect our serial killers hoping to find brain deformations: the last thing we want to see in these situations is ourselves.

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When it comes to the debate of bodyweight versus lifting weights, the arena is full and the sides are clearly drawn.

The fact is, where you’ll take your stand in the debate will be decided by so many circumstances that no one gets to their stance in the exact same way. However, there are four very clear reasons you should consider making the change from the bench press to the push-up – or, at the very least, to consider getting the best out of both.

Reason #1

When doing push-ups and other bodyweight exercises, the amount of weight and resistance you’re working with is in direct proportion to your body’s inherent capabilities. Performing push-ups will be the equivalent of “lifting” roughly 60% of your body’s weight.

If you weigh in at 185 pounds, that’s roughly equal to 110 pounds. If you weigh 220, it’s closer to 135 pounds.

Reason #2

Push-ups can be better for your health than bench pressing – especially if you’ve led a more sedentary life until now. Push-ups are a safer option because your shoulder joints won’t have to support excessive weight, or risk winding up in an unnatural or compromised position.

Unlike bench pressing, which really zero’s in on specific areas while neglecting the overall body, push-ups work a wider variety of your muscle groups, offering fuller, more wide-spread results. Hey, back in the day, when bench presses first entered the scene, serious athletes snubbed them as “a lazy man’s machine.”

Reason #3

Push-ups offer yet another reason to make the switch: they demand (and develop) greater stability PLUS better overall body control. This translates into improved balance and an optimized range of motion. Both of which will make a significant impact on your overall presence and persona, and perhaps more importantly – your quality of life!

Examined individually, these benefits are fairly impressive. However, when you add them all together, the results are simply spectacular.

Check this out….. With pushups….

Your body won’t be stressed out from aggressive, excessive weight lifting. You’ll always be working with roughly 60% of your body’s weight.

Switching from strictly bench pressing to performing push-ups is better on your shoulder joints, which are often deteriorated and compromised in the course of rigorous weight lifting.

You’ll also be enjoying an exercise that works a much wider majority of your body’s muscles. Not only will your arms look fantastic, you’ll see real results in your back, abs, and butt as well.

PLUS you wind up with improved balance, movement and control.

But, there’s another benefit that you might have missed…

Reason #4

Once you’ve started maximizing the power of push-ups, there’s a whole world of fitness possibilities that open up. It’s called “bodyweight exercises” or “bodyweight training”, and push-ups are just one of a multitude of your options.

Know what’s even better?

Just like push-ups, other bodyweight exercises don’t require expensive gym memberships, bulky equipment, massive amounts of your time, or any of the other obstacles that turn what should be a simple work-out into a Herculean effort.

Quit complicating things! Don’t let “public opinion” make things harder than they have to be.

Get back to the basics and regain control of not only your workout, but the rest of your life as well!

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Anyone who’s been in this industry will tell you there’s nothing better then closing a double ender, or representing both sides to a transaction and getting the full commission. However, what they won’t always tell you is how risky and stressful they can be since a dual agency creates a relationship that isn’t very clear-cut.

To avoid any potential problems down the road, be sure to disclose the limitations put on you when you create a duel agency relationship. Some states have legal forms that need to be signed by all parties involved. But, I suggest taking it a step forward and make sure they understand the situation completely, and how it does create a conflict of interest for you. In a duel agency, your fiduciary duties to either client are much more limited because you can no longer advocate for either party, since each client has opposite goals.

Before deciding to start a dual agency relationship you should consider the following:

Review your state’s laws and determine if dual agency is legal. In many states it is prohibited to ensure the agent isn’t put in a position of trying to satisfy both parties when each has different goals. Also, find out what disclosures and procedures you must follow by law. Consult with an attorney if necessary.

Review your company’s policy to see if dual agency is permitted, and what actions you may or may not perform.

Disclose to all parties that you are working as a dual agent and what it means in writing. Be sure to obtain their written permission in a timely manor.

Always recommend in writing that both parties retain an attorney to advise them regarding all documents and other negotiated issues. Whether they do so or not is up to them, but it’s always better to have a way to push liabilities off your shoulders.

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Traditional CRT television screens have a number of important advantages over the newer technologies, not only in terms of the cost to buy them but in the ongoing costs of ownership as well. For instance, while a replacement light source for a DLP TV can cost as much as $500, an entire traditional tube television can be purchased for far less than the cost of that replacement bulb.

In fact it is the price that is the major selling point, and major advantage, of the traditional CRT TV. The prices of all televisions have been falling, but perhaps none have fallen quite so far and so fast as the prices for these traditional tube televisions. The smallest traditional tube televisions, those of 13″ and less, can often be purchased for less than $100, and even the traditional 25″ and 27″ television models often retail for less than $300. In addition, many traditional tube televisions come with features like built in VCRs, built in DVD players and the like, making them even more versatile and useful.

Even the largest regular tube televisions retail for far less than LCD, plasma and DLP rear projection models. While the price of a 36″ traditional tube television may still be over $1,500, the cost of a comparable size LCD or plasma television would be thousands more. Of course it is important to shop around, but in general none but the largest and most feature laden traditional tube televisions will set you back more than about $2,000.

In addition, traditional tube televisions offer true out of the box performance, making them a great choice for those who do not want to go through the hassle of setting up all the accessories that come with the newer technologies. In most cases all the buyer needs to do when purchasing a new CRT TV is to take it out of the box, hook up the cable TV, satellite TV or antenna signal, turn it on and use the remote control to find the channels. It doesn’t get much easier than that, and that may be one of the reasons why these televisions continue to command such a large share of the market even after the advent of all those great new television technologies.

What to Look for in a Traditional Tube Television

When shopping for a new traditional tube television, whether as a replacement for an existing TV or for an additional room, it is important to look for the right features and benefits in that TV. One of the most important considerations is the inputs on the unit. The newest traditional tube televisions come equipped with a number of different inputs, not only for cable, satellite and antenna signals, but for computer inputs as well. It is important to look for the presence of a VGA connection, a DVI connection, or preferably both, as these connections will allow you to hook up a computer to the TV display.

Other common inputs on a traditional tube television include inputs for DVD players, VCRs, Laser Disc players and video games. If these inputs are an important consideration it is a good idea to go shopping with that in mind.

The Importance of the Right Cabling

One vital part of the television viewing experience that many television shoppers overlook is the importance of the type of cabling that is used to connect all that great equipment to the television screen itself. Buying cheap generic cables may save you a little money up front, but the lack of quality will be readily apparent to everyone who watches the TV. It is far better to spend a little bit more and to purchase the best cables you can afford. Buying the right cables is one of the best ways to get the most value for your money.

Speaking of value for your money, it is important to shop around as much as possible, whether you are shopping for a traditional tube television, a plasma screen TV, an LCD TV, a DLP TV or any other type of television technology. These days TVs are sold virtually everywhere, from the deepest discount retailers to the most high end specialty stores and electronics retailers. In addition, televisions of all kinds are sold on the internet as well, so shopping online is always a good idea.

When it comes to choosing a brand, there are certainly no shortage of choices. Virtually every electronics manufacturer in the world, from American firms and European manufacturers to all the Asian suppliers, have at least a few models of traditional tube televisions on the market, so shopping around among brands should not be a problem either. Some of the many manufacturers who make a variety of traditional tube televisions include such well known brands as Toshiba, Sharp, Samsung, Sony, Daewoo, Sylvania, RCA, Magnavox and Phillips, among others.

When shopping for a new television, whether it is a traditional tube television or one of the newer technologies on the market, it is important to look for the newest features and benefits in order to get the most value for your money. It is a good idea, for instance, to look for a television that is HDTV (high definition television) and DTV (digital television) ready, as this will ensure the TV can be used far into the future. One of the many benefits of a traditional tube television is its longevity, and buying an HDTV and DTV ready model will ensure that the TV remains usable no matter what changes may come in the future.

It is also a good idea to choose a traditional tube television with a flat picture tube. This flat screen technology helps to reduce glare and make for a more pleasant viewing experience. These flat picture tube TVs provide many of the same benefits as the more expensive flat screen LCD and plasma TVs, at a fraction of the price.

Gor more info. see http://www.planetomni.com

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If you are going to invest in an all-electric car, you will most certainly want to minimize charging time as much as possible. If you do not have a full charge, you may more easily fall victim to the new emotion electric car drivers have been experiencing:  people are calling it “range anxiety.”  Range anxiety refers to the driver worrying whether he or she has charge enough in their battery cells to make it to their desired destination and back again. Since public charging stations are virtually nonexistent in most areas of the country, running out of charge would be like running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, no gas stations for miles around.  Additionally, many electric cars have a very limited range, sometimes only about 100 miles or so.

Accelerating Charging Time

One way you can fight range anxiety is by having your batteries 100% charged before you leave the garage.  Unfortunately, this can be a time-consuming task with many vehicles.  For example, the Mini-E became available for lease through certain private companies in Los Angeles and New York in June of 2009. With the standard 110 V outlet, such as that which is standard in most residences, charging to 100% capacity took about 14 hours. Unfortunately, that is even longer than overnight, and could most certainly cause problems with your morning commute. However, by installing a 220 V charger in one’s home, charging time can be brought down to only three hours. The thing is, installing a 220 V charger requires a licensed electrician, a permit to do so, and about $2000.  That’s a significant increase of investment. 

As time goes on, charging stations will become more prevalent across the country.  With these may come 420 V “fast-chargers,” which are estimated to given an 80% charge in as little as 5 to 30 minutes.  For now, however, prospective buyers of all-electric cars should remain aware of the costs associated with installing a 220 V outlet in their home.

Electric Cars on the Horizon for 2011

There are two exciting electric cars on the horizon for 2011. One is the Nissan Leaf, which is all-electric and has a range of 100 miles per day. The second is the Chevy Volt, which has an onboard gasoline engine which acts as a generator to provide electricity if the batteries are depleted. This should help to allay range anxiety to a large extent.  Moreover, its range will be nearly triple that of the Nissan Leaf. However, the Volt will cost about $7000 more than the $33,000 Nissan Leaf. Both qualify for $7500 federal tax credit.

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Two months back, a business report published in “Star Business” of The Daily Star drew my attention. The Daily Star is the leading English daily published in Bangladesh. The report highlighted about the increase in revenue collection this year. It is a very delighted news that the revenue collection has increased by 1000 crore (100 crore = 1 billion).

The report also presents list for the top ten tax payers for both corporate tax and also for VAT. The report mentions the tax amounts for these firms for the period of 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. According to the data presented in the report, most of the firms’ payment has increased in case of both corporate tax and VAT. The chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, is also happy to announce this news. He mentions it as a great success for NBR.

Yes, it is a success for NBR. But, does the news indicate a positive economic growth in the country? The question can be resolved by calculating the rate of change in tax payment and VAT payment for every period.

If we analyze a financial statement, we find tax as a function of profit. As profit is the difference between income and expenses, change of tax is also a function of change in income or expenses. Mathematically we can express this concept as:

Profit = Income – Expenses

Tax = Profit * Tax rate

If we consider two consecutive years’ tax amount as Tax1 and Tax2, Percentage change in tax amount, (Tax2 – Tax1) / Tax1

= (Profit2 * Tax rate – Profit1 * Tax rate) / Profit1 * Tax rate

= (Profit2 – Profit1) / Profit1

= [(Income2 - Expenses2) - (Income1 - Expenses1)] / (Income1 – Expenses1)

Hence, tax growth rate would be positive if revenue can be increased or expenses can be reduced. Alternatively, tax growth rate can become negative if revenue falls or expenses increase.

For an individual firm, positive or negative growth in tax can be treated as an indication for success or failure in management performance. When it happens for most of the top corporate tax payers, it is no more individual performance. It becomes an issue about the overall economic growth of the country.

Unlike tax, VAT is directly related with sales or revenue. If VAT growth increases, it must indicate a positive sales growth. If VAT growth declines, it must raise question about sales growth. Hence, most of top ten VAT payers’ positive or negative growth in VAT payment naturally indicates the positive or negative economic growth of the country.

The top 10 corporate tax payers’ list includes seven banks, two gas companies and one mobile operator. Grameen Phone tops the list with a payment of TK 435 crore taxes in the period of 2007-2008. Its previous period’s tax payment amounts TK 128 crore. Hence tax amount grew by 239.84% in the period of 2007-2008. But, what was the tax growth rate in the previous years?

Table 1: Top 10 Corporate tax payers (Source: The Daily Star, July 10, 2008)

Company name -Tax amount (In crore TK) – Change in tax payment 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 2005-2006 – 2004-2005 – 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 – 2005-2006

Grameen Phone 435 128 28 6 239.84% 357.14% 366.67%

Standard Chartered Bank 220 188 86 41 17.02% 118.60% 109.76%

Chevron Bangladesh Blocks 13 and 14 Ltd 180 81 11 - 122.22% 636.36% -

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd 161 101 65 2 59.41% 55.38% 3150.00%

Titas Gas (T&D) Company Ltd 136 97 70 - 40.21% 38.57% -

HSBC 118 78 42 4 51.28% 85.71% 950.00%

Southeast Bank Ltd 88 49 11 5 79.59% 345.45% 120.00%

Pubali Bank Ltd 78 44 - 0.12 77.27% - -

Citi Bank NA 76 52 28 14 46.15% 85.71% 100.00%

Prime Bank Ltd 67 47 26 - 42.55% 80.77% -

In 2005-2006, Grameen’s tax amount increased by 366.67%, while in 2006-2007, tax grew by 357.14%. Hence the growth rate has reduced every year. Most of other firms of the list had the same phenomena. Tax growth rate for Standard Chartered Bank for the last three periods were 109.76%, 118.60% and 17.02%. Hence in 2007-2008, the tax growth rate drastically fell for this bank. The exceptions of this list are Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd and Titas Gas (T&D) Company Ltd. Titas Gas had 38.57% tax growth in 2006-2007, while the growth rate was 40.21% in 2007-2008. On the other hand, Islami bank’s tax growth increased by more than 4% in 2007-2008. But in 2006-2007, their tax growth rate fell sharply. In this period, their tax growth was only 55.38%, while in 2005-2006, their tax growth was 3150%.

Nearly similar story is written for the top 10 VAT payers in ‘07-’08 term.

Table 2: Top 10 VAT payers (Source: The Daily Star, July 10, 2008)

Company name – VAT amount (In crore TK) – Change in VAT payment 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 2005-2006 – 2004-2005 – 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 – 2005-2006

British American Tobacco 2828 2481 2079 1852 13.99% 19.34% 12.26%

Grameen Phone 1438 918 985 345 56.64% -6.80% 185.51%

Dhaka Tobacco 1180 1029 962 712 14.67% 6.96% 35.11%

Titas Gas Field 764 835 819 789 -8.50% 1.95% 3.80%

Sheba Telecom 601 252 224 - 138.49% 12.50% -

Hobigonj Gas Field 465 494 512 546 -5.87% -3.52% -6.23%

AKTEL 277 237 328 110 16.88% -27.74% 198.18%

Kailashtila Gas Field 196 159 99 110 23.27% 60.61% -10.00%

Rural Electrification Board 105 18 24 - 483.33% -25.00% -

Rashidpur Gas Field 101 125 138 170 -19.20% -9.42% -18.82%

Out of the ten, five firms had reduced growth in VAT payment in this period compare to ‘06-’07. Three of these firms had negative growth in VAT payment for the year 2007-2008. Out of these ten firms, Grameen Phone, Sheba Telecom and REB had very sharp growth in 2007-2008. Grameen had an increase in their growth in VAT payment from -6.8% to 56.64%, while Sheba’s growth increased from 12.5% to 138.49%. REB’s VAT payment growth was sharper. It increased form -25% to 483.33%. On the other hand, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, the highest VAT payer in Bangladesh, had a VAT growth of 13.99% in 2007-2008. Their VAT growth was 19.34% in 2006-2007. It is also mentionable that Grameen had a VAT growth of 185.51% in 2005-2006, while the growth reduced to -6.80% in 2006-2007.

Table 3: Annual tax growth rate for top 10 corporate tax payers

Company name – Change in tax payment – Growth 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 – 2005-2006 – 2007-2008 – 2006-2007

Grameen Phone 239.84% 357.14% 366.67% -32.84% -2.60%

Standard Chartered Bank 17.02% 118.60% 109.76% -85.65% 8.06%

Chevron Bangladesh Blocks 13 and 14 Ltd 122.22% 636.36% - -80.79% -

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd 59.41% 55.38% 3150.00% 7.26% -98.24%

Titas Gas (T&D) Company Ltd 40.21% 38.57% - 4.24% -

HSBC 51.28% 85.71% 950.00% -40.17% -90.98%

Southeast Bank Ltd 79.59% 345.45% 120.00% -76.96% 187.88%

Pubali Bank Ltd 77.27% - - - -

Citi Bank NA 46.15% 85.71% 100.00% -46.15% -14.29%

Prime Bank Ltd 42.55% 80.77% - -47.32% -

Total 80.23% 135.69% 408.87% -40.87% -66.81%

Table 4: Annual VAT growth rate for top 10 VAT payers

Company name – Change in VAT payment – Growth 2007-2008 – 2006-2007 – 2005-2006 – 2007-2008 – 2006-2007

British American Tobacco 13.99% 19.34% 12.26% -27.67% 57.76%

Grameen Phone 56.64% -6.80% 185.51% -932.76% -103.67%

Dhaka Tobacco 14.67% 6.96% 35.11% 110.70% -80.16%

Titas Gas Field -8.50% 1.95% 3.80% -535.25% -48.62%

Sheba Telecom 138.49% 12.50% - 1007.94% -

Hobigonj Gas Field -5.87% -3.52% -6.23% 66.98% -43.54%

AKTEL 16.88% -27.74% 198.18% -160.83% -114.00%

Kailashtila Gas Field 23.27% 60.61% -10.00% -61.60% -706.06%

Rural Electrification Board 483.33% -25.00% - -2033.33% -

Rashidpur Gas Field -19.20% -9.42% -18.82% 103.82% -49.95%

Total 21.49% 6.13% 33.15% 250.73% -81.52%

It is very alarming that the growth rate for both corporate tax and VAT for most of top ten firms are negative in both 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Hence the additional tax payment does not indicate the positive economic growth for the country.

The government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh must be more calculative about the economic growth of the country and concentrate in finding the reasons which would cause the declining economic growth in the country.