‘BTC working to protect interests of domestic industry’

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RANGPUR, Jan 14, 2020 (BSS) – Chairman of Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) Tapan Kanti Ghosh today said the commission is working relentlessly for boosting the national economy by protecting the interests of domestic industry.

He said this at the views-exchange meeting and seminar on ‘Role of
Bangladesh Tariff Commission in Protecting the Interests of Domestic
Industry, Tariff Affairs Support and Raising Awareness’ held at the RCCI
Board Room here as the chief guest.

The BTC jointly with Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI)
arranged the events for former and incumbent directors, officials, executives
of RCCI, industrialists, importers and exporters and journalists.

Senior Vice-president of RCCI Mostoba Hossain Ripon delivered welcome
speech in the events presided over by its President Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury
Titu.

Divisional Commissioner of Customs and Excise and VAT Commissionerate
Shawkat Ali Sadi and Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan addressed as special
guests. Assistant Chief of BTC Md. Mahmudul Hasan presented the keynote essay
in the events moderated by its Member Shah Md. Abu Raihan Alberuni.

Directors of RCCI Mohammad Motahar Hossain Mondal Mowla and Pronoy Banik,
distinguished importers and exporters Md. Magarb Ali, Alhaj Moyen Uddin and
Md. Shahjahan Ali spoke on taxation, VAT and excise duty issues.

The BTC Chairman said the tariff commission will not do anything to harm
domestic industry and always makes decisions only to protect the interests of
domestic industries.

“India has offered duty-free access to all of our products, except 25
items. But, we cannot fully utilize the facility for some non-tariff
barriers,” he said, adding that fair price of the locally produced products
will be determined to protect domestic industry.

He called upon the businessmen and industrialists to further accelerate
economic development of Rangpur region by promoting trade and commerce along
with agriculture.

He said it is BTC’s responsibility to control antidumping and
countervailing by taking safeguard measures to create marketing opportunities
of domestic products in domestic and international markets.

The BTC Chairman requested businesspersons to send suggestions on taxation
or exemption of taxes on domestic products, imported goods and export
products for greater national interests.

The RCC President urged BTC to work robustly for highlighting domestic
products and services at the local and international levels to attract
investors and reduce dependence on imported products through
industrialization and increasing export.

He urged BTC for taking effective steps to provide supports related to
industrial policies, credit policies, tax and VAT policies, extension of tax
holidays to encourage investment in the economically backward Rangpur region.