Importers have announced a two-day suspension of fresh fruit offloading at Chittagong Port in protest against the government’s decision to impose increased VAT and additional duties on fruit imports.
Muhammad Touhidul Alam, General Secretary of the Chittagong Fruit Traders Association and Organizational Secretary of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, confirmed the decision on Monday, February 3.
The suspension will not only affect Chittagong Port but will also extend to all land ports across the country, with imported fruits being held back from clearance for the next two days, he said.
Earlier on the same day, fruit importers staged a human chain and sit-in in front of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in Dhaka as part of a planned protest by the association’s central committee.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the NBR demanding the withdrawal of the increased VAT and additional duties on fresh fruit imports,” said Alam. “Since our demands have not been met, we have decided to halt fruit clearance at Chittagong Port and all land ports on February 4 and 5. The increased VAT and duties have caused fruit prices to rise, making it difficult to sell fruits in the market, which is why we have taken this step.”
He further warned that if the government does not address their concerns by February 13, they will extend the suspension indefinitely starting February 14.
