Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (Barvida) demanded the government reduce the import duty on hybrid cars, as they are “more eco-friendy than traditional cars.”
“Hybrid cars are fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, but the problem is the high price, which keeps consumers from buying them. High import duty is the reason behind the higher prices,” said Barvida president MA Hamid Sharif.
The association made the demand at a pre-budget meeting yesterday with National Board of Revenue chairman Md Nojibur Rahman in the chair.
“If the government reduces the import duty, the prices of hybrid cars will come down,” said Hamid.
He said it would also reduce pressure on fuel and energy, especially gas, which could be used for the industrial production.
Barvida also recommended setting depreciation facilities at 25% for one-year old reconditioned cars, 35% for two-year old, 45% for three-year old, 50% for five-year old and 55% for more than five-year old cars.
It sought withdrawal of the 30% supplementary tax on micro-bus imports, as it is used for carrying tourists, medical items and for official and industrial purposes.
NBR also held meetings with some other organisations yesterday.
Bangladesh Cha Sangsad proposed imposing a higher import duty on tea imports for the sake of local producers.
“The production of tea increased by 187% to 200% and if the import of tea is allowed at a lower duty, it would make it difficult for the sector to survive,” said president of Bangladesh Cha Sangsad Ardashir Kabir.
For the sake of local tea producers, the government should fix the import duty at a rational level, he added.
Besides, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association urged the government to withdraw the supplementary import duty on lubricants and grease.
“We urge the government to lower the import duty to 5% from the existing 10% on tyre imports,” said Faruk Talukdar Sohel, president of the association.
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association recommended imposing an import duty of Tk100-150 per handset to avert smuggling.
“We imported about 20m handsets last year, of which, 30% were imported through illegal channels. If the import duty is set at 30%, smuggling can be prevented,” said the association's president Mohammad Nizamuddin Jitu.
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association urged the government to bring down the import duty on mobile handsets to a rational level.
At present, the importers are paying a 21.75% duty, which is not a rational rate, it said.
