The country's apex trade body urged the government on Sunday to remove discrimination in tariff rates on import of fire safety equipment in the interest of all industries.
Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) came up with the plea during the first meeting of the apex trade body's Standing Committee on Fire Safety, Disaster and Explosion.
Addressing the event, they called upon the government to allow other sectors to import fire safety equipment at reduced rates, a facility enjoyed by the country's garment sector.
"The image of Bangladesh abroad is tarnished when fires break out in other industries as well. Moreover, workers in all sectors have equal rights to safety and security," committee Chairman Md Niaz Ali Chisty said during the meeting.
He said that it was important for factories in all sectors to have fire protection systems to ensure safe industrialisation in the country.
"Except the garment industry, other industries have to bear the heavy tax burden of importing the much-needed equipment," he mentioned.
Therefore, there should be no such discrimination in the tariff rate on the import of fire safety equipment, he reasoned.
Demanding equal benefits for all sectors like that enjoyed by readymade garment (RMG), he said that total tax rate is 58.6 per cent for fire door, fire alarm cable and hose reel imports, 37 per cent for gate valve, 26.2 per cent for fire pump and fire alarm system (detector), 11.05 per cent for fire extinguisher and 31 per cent for ABC dry powder.
He also observed that requirement of separate permits for importing carbon dioxide, foam, dry powder and other fire-resistant gases and chemicals has resulted in harassment and causing unnecessary delay for the importers.
Noting that there is no BSTI laboratory in Chattogram, he said the importers have to send chemicals to Dhaka for testing, which takes an additional 8 to 10 days resulting in prices spike due to rents at ports and containers for those days.
He also said that due to high tax rates, it is often not possible for small and medium entrepreneurs to take adequate fire protection measures.
Speaking as the chief guest at the meeting, FBCCI Vice President Md Amin Helaly said that the development of Bangladesh has been largely informal.
He urged the standing committee to prepare an action plan to ensure fire safety in the factories apart from garment.
He also recommended starting sector-based training by preparing a training manual.
He urged the importers to take initiative to manufacture fire safety equipment locally.
Abu Motaleb, director-in-charge of the committee, said there could be various reasons behind the fire at the factory.
He informed that the standing committee would soon submit a policy to the FBCCI identifying the problems and action plan to ensure fire safety in the factory.
A sub-committee has also been formed at the meeting to formulate that policy.
During the meeting, Brig Gen (Retd) Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, advisor of FBCCI's Safety Council, said that FBCCI has already contacted International Labour Organisation (ILO) to start safety training in the country's industry.
He said that the government was also considering setting up a national level one-stop service in order to provide all fire safety certificates and permits.
FBCCI Director Harun Or Rashid, Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, Standing Committee Co-Chairman Md Wahid Uddin, Mohammed Shahjahan, Abul Hossain, M Mahmudur Rashid, Zakir Uddin Ahmed, Mohammad Shamsul Haque Jamil, Mohammad Awlad Husain Rajib, Mohammad Monzur Alam, Tanjir Ahmmed Tohin and other members of the committee were also present.
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