Business Desk :
Leaders of Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association have sought for the imposition of higher tariff on tiles import in the proposed annual budget for the fiscal 2021-22 in a bid to safeguard the local ceramic industry.
They also have demanded withdrawal of the imposed supplementary taxes on production and supply of all kinds of locally made tiles and sanitary products.
BCMEA came up with such demands at a post-budget press conference held at National Press Club in the capital on Thursday.
Addressing the press conference, BCMEA president Sirajul Islam Mollah said, “The tariff reduction on imported tiles will put the local ceramic industry into a jeopardise condition while 15 per cent supplementary tax has been proposed to impose on domestic ceramics at the production stage and 15 per cent VAT on sale.”
“If the market of the ceramic industry remains under a volatile situation, the investors will lose their interest in their own business which will result in huge job cuts,” he added.
BCMEA general secretary Irfan Uddin said, “Domestic tiles and sanitary products are no longer considered as luxury items for the building construction industry in Bangladesh.”
The BCEMA leaders also called upon the government to reduce import duties on minerals and other raw materials needed for ceramic industry as most of these ingredients for producing ceramic and tiles are not available in the country.
The press conference was attended, among others, by BCMEA vice president Moynul Islam and its directors Rasheed Mymunul Islam, Azizul Hakim Sumon and Ruslan Nasir.
