BGMEA urges NBR to remove hurdles for easing business

To ease doing business, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to remove all kinds of non-tariff barriers, such as those related to HS code, tax, and wastage.

A delegation led by BGMEA President Faruque Hassan met NBR Member (customs policy) Md Masud Sadiq at the revenue board’s office in the capital on Wednesday. BGMEA’s former first vice-president SM Abu Tayeb and former director Md Munir Hossain were present among others.

BGMEA insiders said the government had fixed the sweater wastage rate at 4 per cent, basic knit and woven items at 27 per cent, and special knit and woven items at 30 per cent.

However, this rate is not enough to manufacture knit items and sweater, and BGMEA has applied to the commerce ministry seeking a review.

“The NBR executes government decisions that are causing exporters to suffer. We urged them to consider those,” Shaidullah Azim, vice-president of BGMEA who attended the meeting, told The Business Post.

Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, former first vice-president of BGMEA, told The Business Post there are now many non-tariff barriers.

“We urged Masud to remove those and ease ways to do business in order to propel the garment industry’s growth. He assured us of looking into those,” he said.

Faruque also urged the NBR to remove customs- and bond-related impediments.

“Business procedures should be made faster and easier to reduce time and cost, which will help accelerate trade and thus facilitate Bangladesh’s economic growth,” he said.