Restaurant owners have urged the government to ensure essential commodities at subsidised rates through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The central executive committee of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association (BROA) raised the demand during its meeting at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) on Saturday, reports UNB.
The leaders of the organisation said excessive price hikes have brought the toughest times of their lives since starting their businesses.
They said current price hikes have come up as a deeper crisis than the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Now abnormal price hike of essential commodities has emerged as a big disaster for the business,” said BROA Secretary-General Imran Hasan.
“Many restaurants are now closing their businesses,” he said, adding that even after such a rise in prices for their business inputs, menu prices at the hotel and restaurants have not been increased.
He also said wages of employees, and overall operation costs, have increased many folds.
“In such a grim situation, the move by the government to raise gas and water tariffs will further escalate their costs,” he said.
The BROA secretary-general demanded a reduction of the existing 5 per cent value-added tax (VAT) in their sector to 3 per cent, and other taxes to be capped at 5 per cent.
BROA President Osman Gani; Vice Presidents Shah Sultan Khokon and M Rezaul Karim Sarkar Robin; former president Ruhul Amin, First Joint Secretary General Firoz Alam Sumon, Organising Secretary Syed Mohammad Andalib, Treasurer Taufiqul Islam Khan and other members were also present at the meeting.
