The proposed budget recommends a 25% tariff on the import of raw materials needed by the country’s printing, publishing and packaging industries, but industries in this sector demanded a maximum tariff of 5% for these raw materials.

The sudden imposition of a high tariff will almost double the price of all paper-based products, including books, notebooks and packaging boxes, and industries in this sector will face immense difficulties, according to traders.

If tariffs on these commodities are unreasonable, unscrupulous businessmen could evade taxes on these goods, leading to a loss of government revenue, seven business organizations said at a hotel news conference on Wednesday. of the capital.

Bangladesh Local Cartoon Manufacturers Association (BLCMA), Bangladesh Printing Industries Association (PIAB), Bangladesh Paper Importers Association (BPIA), Paper Merchants Association Association of Bangladesh (BPMA), Bangladesh Textbook Printers and Marketing Association, Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association (BBPSA) and Bangladesh Packaging Industries Association have jointly organized the press conference.

Duplex boards, art paper, art cards, liner kraft paper, high quality printing ink, printing plates and bookbinding glue are used for a large number of products produced by a wide range of industries. There is a huge demand for these materials which are not produced in Bangladesh.

The 10,000 tons of 230 GSM art card required for the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) are also not produced in our country.

“The government has set a 5% duty on the importation of plastic raw materials not produced in our country. Similarly, our high quality imported raw materials (paper and cardboard) are also not produced in the country, so a 5% duty on the importation of these materials is deemed essential in the public interest and for revenue growth,” the business owners said at the press conference.

If the tariff rate is set at 5%, the existing chaos in the process of importing these products will come to an end and revenues will increase significantly by preventing the misuse of the bonded warehouse, traders said.

Md Amin Helaly, Vice President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), delivered a speech at the press conference.

Shafiqul Islam Vorosha, President of BPIA; Shahid Serniabat, President of PIAB; Rabbani Jabbar, Director of FBCCI; Mohammad Belal, Corporate Secretary, Chattogram Paper and Cellophane Traders Group; Md Jewel, Vice Chairman of BPMA; Shyamal Pal, Vice President of BBPSA, and Basar Patwari, President of BLCMA, were present at the press conference.