Citizens' committee demands immediate withdrawal of VAT, SD hike ordinance, reinstatement of TCB truck sale
They also called on govt for reforms rather than early election, speedy declaration of July proclamation
The National Citizens' Committee has demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance raising value added tax (VAT) and supplementary duty (SD) on over 90 products and services as well as reinstatement of the TCB truck sale programme.
Criticising the recent moves, its General Secretary Akhtar Hossain told a press conference today (11 January) that these measures would lead to a rise in the country's inflation.
Speaking at the press conference, he said, "VAT has been increased on over a hundred products. As a result, inflation will rise. I would like to urge the interim government not to take action under IMF conditions that will make people lose their trust in the government."
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Criticising the closure of the TCB truck sale programme, Akhtar Hossain said, "TCB supplies essential goods to the underprivileged at subsidised rates. By suspending the truck sale, the government has only increased the sufferings of the common people."
Leaders of the committee also said though the government's effort to increase revenue is natural, it should be done in a way that does not further burden people's living costs.
They also called on the government to take action to recover Tk92,000 crore looted from banks and Tk2 lakh crore in default loans.
"If the $234 billion of money embezzled by the [ousted] Awami League government is brought back to the country, the economy will become stronger," the committee's general secretary said.
Addressing the lack of a fixed date for announcing the July uprising proclamation, he said, "We expect visible steps from the government. At the same time, the excessive reverence shown by some political parties for the 1972 constitution is also questionable."
Opposing the rush to organise the national election without completing the necessary reforms, Akhtar Hossain said, "Parties demanding an early election are positioning themselves against the aspirations of the people. I urge the government not to do anything that will make people's lives more difficult."
