Thousands of bidi workers have staged a demonstration demanding the withdrawal of extra tax from the bidi from current fiscal year 2020-21 to run the industry smoothly.
So far more than 20 lakh people, including tobacco cultivators, workers, traders and factory owners are now in suffering as their income almost shut across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They are now remain unemployed as most of the factories have already been closed to avoid huge loss.
The bidi leaders yesterday disclosed this from a protest rally arranged by the bidi workers under the banner of ‘Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federarion’ held at Swadhinata Square premises in the Sirajganj district town.
They speakers have placed six-point charters to press home their demands. These are —to cancel the newly imposed four per cent price hike on each of the bidi packet in all production level, withdraw of 10 per cent advanced income tax on bidi, ban the online licence for making bidi, stop counterfeiter bidi trading, declare bidi as cottage industry, and launch system for six days working facilities for workers in every week.
The leaders and workers also sought the exclusive intervene of prime minister to run their livelihood amid the Covid -19 outbreak.
A vested quarters of government officials have intentionally hiked the bidi tax while only two per cent tax on low quality cigarettes to ensure extra facilities for cigarettes run by multinational companies that may destroy bidi industry, they claimed.
Citing history, they said Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman relieved tax from bidi and his daughter also issued order not to hike bidi tax, but National Board of Revenue (NBR) raised bidi tax that questionable and pushing threat to involved over 20 lakh people amid corona pandemic.
They have submitted a memorandum with their demands to Premier through Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner.
BBSF President M K Bangali, Executive President Amin Uddin BSc, General Secretary Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Herik Hossain, and Sirajganj Bidi Sramik Union President Md Amzad Hossain, among others, were present.
