Staff Reporter :
Traders in Dhaka have announced shutdown of their business establishments for November 2 to press home their demands for reviewing the structures in Value Added Tax (VAT).
They announced the programme at a protest rally held in front of FBCCI Bhaban in the capital on Sunday.
Terming the present VAT system ‘anti-business,’ they urged the government to bring necessary changes on it in line with the recommendations of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex trade body of the country.
Retail and wholesale traders under the banner of Byaboshayee Oikya Forum took part at the protest rejecting the current VAT system on retail and wholesale trade.
“Retail and wholesale shops in the city will remain close on November 2 to protest against the current VAT system introduced in the budget for 2016-17,” said Abu Motaleb, General Secretary of Byaboshayee Oikya Forum while speaking at the rally.
He said: “We are not opposing the VAT. But the government introduced the VAT system in haphazard manner causing chaos in businesses.”
“The current VAT and tax structure has posed serious impediment to the businesses and they will not survive unless the structures are logically readjusted,” said Abu Motaleb.
“We earlier urged the government to enact a business-friendly VAT law as per the recommendation made by business community. But it did not pay any heed to them forcing to launch anti-VAT protest,” he said.
The Byaboshayee Okkya Forum leader issued the warning that if the government does not meet their demands by November 30, they will announce an uninterrupted shutdown programme across the country.
FBCCI vice-president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President of the Oikya Forum Abdus Salam, General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners’ Association Masud Kader Mona were present at the rally, among others.
