Business Desk :
Entrepreneurs at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Standing Committee Meeting on Sunday underscored the need for ensuring equal tariff facilities like RMG for every sector on the import of fire safety equipment.
They observed that the government has only allowed the garment sector to import fire safety equipment at reduced rates.
Moreover, they mentioned that workers in all sectors have equal rights to safety and security and therefore, there should be no such discrimination in the tariff rate on the import of fire safety equipment.
Entrepreneurs on Sunday made these remarks at the first meeting of the FBCCI Standing Committee on Fire Safety, Disaster and Explosion held at FBCCI.
The committee chairman Md Niaz Ali Chisty said it is important for factories in all sectors to have fire protection systems to ensure safe industrialization in the country.
But other than the garment industry, other industrialists have to bear the heavy tax burden of importing these much-needed equipment, he added.
The total tax incidence is 58.6 percent in fire door, fire alarm cable and hose reel imports, 37 percent in gate valve, 26.2 percent in fire pump and fire alarm system (detector), 11.05% in fire extinguisher and 31 percent in ABC dry powder, he informed.
Due to high tax incidence, it is often not possible for small and medium entrepreneurs to take adequate fire protection measures. Hence, he demanded equal benefits for all sectors like the readymade garment industry.
Separate permits, required for the import of carbon dioxide, foam, dry powder and other fire-resistant gases and chemicals result in harassment and time delay for the importers.
As there is no BSTI laboratory in Chattogram, chemicals have to be sent to Dhaka for testing, which takes an additional 8 to 10 days. Prices have risen due to fares at ports and containers for those days.
Abu Motaleb, director-in-charge of the committee, said there could be various reasons behind the fire at the factory. But first of all, the owner is blamed. He said the standing committee would soon submit a policy to the FBCCI identifying the problems and action plan to ensure fire safety in the factory.
A sub-committee is also formed at the meeting to formulate that policy.
During the meeting, Brig Gen (retd) Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, advisor of FBCCI’s Safety Council, said that FBCCI has already contacted ILO to start safety training in the industry.
The government is also considering setting up a national level one-stop service in order to provide all fire safety certificates and permits, he informed.
FBCCI Director Harun Or Rashid, Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque and Standing Committee Co-Chairman Md. Wahid Uddin were present at the meeting, among others.
