Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association has demanded reduction in Value Added Tax for moderate, lower category and fine dining restaurants for the fiscal year 2021-22.
The owners organised a press conference in capital on Saturday where they also voiced in unison for cancellation of 10 per cent supplementary tax.
"The proposed budget for FY 2021-22 mentioned 15 per cent VAT for air-conditioned, five per cent for non-air-conditioned restaurants. However, we want it to be reduced to three to five per cent for lower and moderate categories, and a 7.5 per cent VAT for fine dining restaurants," Imran Hasan, Secretary General of BROA, said at the press conference.
BROA also suggested 15 per cent VAT on five-star and four-star category hotels and restaurants. Besides, the association proposed two per cent VAT on canteen or cafeteria at educational institutions, hostels, and industrial factories.
Restaurant owners at the event demanded installation of Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) in all the restaurants across the country.
Other demands made by the association include, formulation of a policy for online food delivery services with a 10 per cent commission ceiling, a six-month benefit for workers in the sector, low-rate loans for the owners and vaccination of all staff members of the hospitality industry.
The owners said that they want the sector to be recognised as an industry.
The country currently has around 60,000 restaurants where around 30 lakh people are currently employed, said BROA.
