Declare rubber as agro product, BRGOA urges govt

Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owner’s Association (BRGOA) on Sunday pressed 11-point demands to the government, including declaring rubber as an agricultural product.

“Rubber Research Institute should be built as well as security in rubber cultivation areas should also be ensured for the country's economic development,” BRGOA Adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain said at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Moazzem, also the SMH Group managing director And Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) director said, “Different countries of the world have declared rubber as an agricultural product. But Bangladesh did not declare it yet.

“Rubber is used to make around 1,20,000 products around the globe. So, rubber is a very potential sector for us too.”

He also urged the government to withdraw VAT and taxes on rubber products, import hybrid rubber seeds from abroad, and provide bank loans for rubber cultivators at low-interest-rate, as well as renew the agreement of the plots which were allotted in 1980.

Moazzem continued that rubber trees are cultivated on around one lakh acres of land in the country, including the hill tract districts and Sylhet area. Some 1,300 rubber cultivators have generated nearly 1,00,000 jobs in the country.

Among others, PHP, and Gazi Group have also invested in the sector.

BRGOA President Muhammad Harun and the association’s members also were present at the event.