Bikers form human chain protesting new tax

Bikers have formed a human chain in front of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters in Agargaon, the capital, protesting the potential imposition of a new tax on motorcycles.

At around 12:00pm on Sunday about 200 motorcycles were seen parked in a line on the road in front of the NBR building.

Standing on the sidewalk, bikers held various placards and chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the tax.

The NBR has been weighing a new AIT regime for the country’s lakhs of motorcycles, while simultaneously eyeing to hike existing AIT on high-capacity
(CC) vehicles, finance ministry sources said earlier.

The tax regulator is also considering imposing AIT on the burgeoning fleet of battery-run autorickshaws, popularly known as “Bangla Tesla” in the country.

A proposal in this regard was placed before Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury last week during a budget-related meeting.

Currently, motorcycle owners pay road tax along with registration fees.

The tax stands at Tk2,300 for two years and Tk11,500 for 10 years. For other motor vehicles, annual taxes currently range from Tk25,000 to Tk350,000 depending on engine capacity.

The NBR said motorcycles up to 110cc are likely to remain exempt from the new AIT.

A composite image showing motorcycle dominance in Dhaka: a rider doing a stunt, a street packed with bikers in traffic, and an aerial view of road congestion.

Motorcycles between 111cc and 125cc could face an annual tax of Tk2,000, while owners of bikes between 126cc and 165cc may have to pay Tk5,000 a year, the official said.

Motorcycles with engines above 165cc may be subject to an annual advance income tax of Tk10,000.