Leaders of the Chattogram chapter of BGMEA met with Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi at a port city hotel on Friday night and requested him to halve the existing source tax on RMG products.
First Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association or BGMEA Syed Najrul Islam, Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury and former vice president Mohammed Nasir Udddin were among the BGMEA's Chattogram unit team in the meeting followed by a dinner at Radison Blu hotel in Kazir Dewri area which lasted till 9:00 at night.
During the meeting, Mr Najrul Islam on behalf of the BGMEA, appealed to the commerce minister to exclude the readymade garment (RMG) sector from the payment of VAT. He noted that currently the production costs of exportable readymade garment or RMG in the country substantially increased mainly due to the price hike of fuel oils.
Mentioning that the RMG export earnings crossed the milestone of 50 billion US dollars in the last fiscal year, he said, "We appeal to the government to reduce the price of fuels and also cut the existing 1.0 per cent source tax on RMG to .50 per cent."
Expressing their keenness to diversify RMG shipment destinations and increase further its exports, he said, "We need the full cooperation from the government to implement this plan."
The minister assured the BGMEA leaders that he would talk with the Prime Minister regarding their plea they made at the meeting.
"RMG sector is playing a great role in the country's export sector. The Prime Minister has already directed to solve problems facing this sector on a priority basis."
