Jamaat demands withdrawal of VAT, extra duties on products
People are struggling to meet their household expenses at the present situation, says the party general secretary
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today (12 January) demanded withdrawal of the increased value added taxes (VAT) and supplementary duties on about 100 products.
In a statement, Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Parwar expressed his grave concern over the interim government's recent decision to increase the VAT and fresh duties on products.
The Jamaat leader said the government has not been able to take effective initiatives to control the price spiral of necessary commodities to minimise the burden on commoners.
Noting that people are struggling to meet their household expenses at the present situation, Prof Parwar said, "The VAT hike and imposition of fresh duties on more than a hundred products has created an uncomfortable situation for the people of the country."
Due to the imposition of duty, people's daily living expenses would increase, he added.
Besides, before increasing taxes, the government should have taken into consideration the negative impact on common people's living conditions; but it seems that the government has not paid attention to the matter at all, said the Jamaat leader.
Prof Parwar called for immediate withdrawal of the newly imposed VAT and supplementary duties so that additional pressure is not created on the lives of common people, the statement added.