Al Amin :
Reduction of import duties on raw materials and withdrawing of Value-Added Tax (VAT) at the domestic level would have had a significant impact on the prices of the sanitary pads to protect women’s health, businesses said.
It is being treated as a luxury item in terms of taxation, although it is the most essential commodity of the women and girls, they said.
On an average, the price of a packet of sanitary pad in Bangladesh is Tk 100-160. The price is exorbitant to the marginalized people, although it is affordable to the affluent in urban families.
The main reason behind the price hike is imposition of a hefty VAT on such a sensitive product and the people have to count extra ‘pink tax’ for the sanitary pad like other luxury items for the girls.
Kamrul Hasan, Business Director of ACI brand, said the government may exempt VAT at the local level to protect women’s health and to reduce the prices.
Although, it is one of the essential commodities of the women, it is being treated as a luxury item. Almost all the raw materials used for making pads are subject to VAT at the rate of 15 per cent, with 25 per cent customs duty, 5 per cent advance income tax, 3 per cent regulatory duty and 4 per cent ADT.
With the waiver of this high rate of VAT, the price of sanitary pads can be reduced by 40 percent and such waiver of taxes on raw materials for sanitary pads is not going to have a big impact on the overall revenue of the government.
According to data, the use of the sanitary pad in urban areas is 40 to 50 percent but only 12 to 15 percent across the country. The use of sanitary pads is limited to the financially well-off and conscious girls and the commodity is still a luxury one for the marginalized women and girls.
Maximum people in rural area use old clothes and unhealthy cotton, resulting they are falling into serious health risks like cancer.
Sanitary pads are not luxury products but essential. Without proper hygienic protection during periods can cause harm and disease.
About 73 percent of women suffer from cervical and urinary tract infections due to the mismanagement during menstruation, which later turns into cancer.
According to an estimation of the Bangladeshi companies, the market size of diapers and napkins in the country is around Tk 300 crore. Ninety percent of this market is occupied by domestic companies.
Over nine companies including Square, ACI, Bashundhara, Incepta and Pran-RFL Group have invested in the sector.
Mostafizur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of Napkin Manufacturing unit of Bashundhara, said, “Reduction of import duties on raw materials and withdrawing VAT at the domestic level would have had a significant impact on the prices.”
Gender equality is one of the 17 most important goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Mismanagement during menstruation leaves girls and women far behind in education and work, affecting empowerment of them.
Reduction of import duties on raw materials and withdrawing of Value-Added Tax (VAT) at the domestic level would have had a significant impact on the prices of the sanitary pads to protect women’s health, businesses said.
It is being treated as a luxury item in terms of taxation, although it is the most essential commodity of the women and girls, they said.
On an average, the price of a packet of sanitary pad in Bangladesh is Tk 100-160. The price is exorbitant to the marginalized people, although it is affordable to the affluent in urban families.
The main reason behind the price hike is imposition of a hefty VAT on such a sensitive product and the people have to count extra ‘pink tax’ for the sanitary pad like other luxury items for the girls.
Kamrul Hasan, Business Director of ACI brand, said the government may exempt VAT at the local level to protect women’s health and to reduce the prices.
Although, it is one of the essential commodities of the women, it is being treated as a luxury item. Almost all the raw materials used for making pads are subject to VAT at the rate of 15 per cent, with 25 per cent customs duty, 5 per cent advance income tax, 3 per cent regulatory duty and 4 per cent ADT.
With the waiver of this high rate of VAT, the price of sanitary pads can be reduced by 40 percent and such waiver of taxes on raw materials for sanitary pads is not going to have a big impact on the overall revenue of the government.
According to data, the use of the sanitary pad in urban areas is 40 to 50 percent but only 12 to 15 percent across the country. The use of sanitary pads is limited to the financially well-off and conscious girls and the commodity is still a luxury one for the marginalized women and girls.
Maximum people in rural area use old clothes and unhealthy cotton, resulting they are falling into serious health risks like cancer.
Sanitary pads are not luxury products but essential. Without proper hygienic protection during periods can cause harm and disease.
About 73 percent of women suffer from cervical and urinary tract infections due to the mismanagement during menstruation, which later turns into cancer.
According to an estimation of the Bangladeshi companies, the market size of diapers and napkins in the country is around Tk 300 crore. Ninety percent of this market is occupied by domestic companies.
Over nine companies including Square, ACI, Bashundhara, Incepta and Pran-RFL Group have invested in the sector.
Mostafizur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of Napkin Manufacturing unit of Bashundhara, said, “Reduction of import duties on raw materials and withdrawing VAT at the domestic level would have had a significant impact on the prices.”
Gender equality is one of the 17 most important goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Mismanagement during menstruation leaves girls and women far behind in education and work, affecting empowerment of them.
