Light-fittings traders demand removal of corrupt commissioners
Business Report :
Light-fittings sector traders protested demanding the removal of corrupt officials of ICD Kamalapur, Dhaka.
They alleged that those dishonest commissioners used to charge excessive duty in giving clearance of imported light-fittings products.
About one hundred light-fittings importers gathered and held a protest program on Thursday in front of the Kamalapur ICD office with placards demanded removal of corrupt officials including Akbar Hossain and Asaduzzaman.
Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Electric Association Sadekur Rahman Saju and Vice-Chairman Mohammad Yunus Kamal among other business leaders spoke at the event.
They said that imported light-fittings products from China are being taxed at $3 per kg for the last three years.
But from June 1, the current corrupt and monopolistic commissioners of ICD Mohammad Akbar Hossain and Additional Commissioner Asaduzzaman applied pressure on the businessmen to tax goods at 7 dollars. The increased rate is about 133 percent higher than the current tariff. Traders will have to pay Tk 607 more per kg, which is not reasonable at all.
Besides, the corrupted officials also ignored the businessmen’s request of asses the markets. Not only that they alleged that the imported light-fittings products have not been delivered for two months since May 26.
In that case the importers are bearing the shipping demurrages.
In addition, 30 containers of goods are stuck in customs clearance at Kamalapur ICD. It caused a loss of about three crore taka.
Apart from these, the light-fittings traders demanded stopping harassment by the NBR chairman in a written statement.
They demanded end of HS code harassment and cancelation of 250 to 300 percent penalty law.
They demanded to return harassment-free business environment.
They demanded to allow discharging their goods charging tarrif $3 like the before.
Sadekur Rahman Saju said, due to the dishonest officials of ICD Kamalapur, the businessmen of this sector are constantly being harassed.
“Goods cannot be released from ICDs without additional taxation on the one hand and bribery on the other. Officials are eating the profits of traders,” he said.
“Businessmen are losing due to these dishonest officials. Some have already been forced out of business,” he said.
“We have protested in this regard before, but it did not work. Now the interim government has come in the country. I hope that the initiative will be taken to remove these dishonest officials soon.”
He said that despite the absence of government guidelines, they are unethically charging $4 more from the traders to fill their pockets.
Due to the ongoing political situation, the demurrage charges for the last one month and 8 days have to be waived off. The FBCCI and Bangladesh Electric Association supported this demand of light-fittings importers.