Kishoreganj Correspondent

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in Kishoreganj district has called for the immediate withdrawal of an ordinance issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to increase VAT and supplementary duties on over 100 products and services.

The ordinance was issued on the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It imposed higher VAT and supplementary duties (SD) on items such as mobile phone and internet services, medicines, LPG, sweets, biscuits, pickles, tomato sauce, fruit juice, fresh fruits, soap, detergents, kitchen towels, toilet tissues, mattresses, ferromanganese (raw material for rod production), varnish, and more.

In a statement issued on Sunday, CAB leaders warned that this decision to increase VAT and supplementary duties could exacerbate inflation, making life even harder for ordinary people. VAT, SD hike draw harsh criticism across sectors.

The statement was signed by CAB's, Kishoreganj district president Alam Sarowar Tito, executive president advocate Maya Bhowmick, and general secretary Monowar Hossein Rony.

Alam Sarowar Tito, president of kishoreganj's CAB said that, It is unprecedented to raise taxes like this is middle of the fiscal year. While the government claims these are not essential items, everything except cigarettes is closely tied to people’s lives.This will increase the cost of living and fuel inflation.

In the end, it will negatively affect people’s lives. CAB also expressed concern that traders have already started stockpiling with Ramadan approaching in March and raising prices for essentials such as oil, lentils, sugar, chickpeas, fish, meat, and spices.

Although the government has undertaken various initiatives to control inflation, the public has yet to reap its benefits, the CAB leaders added.

They called on the government to expand the existing VAT net, streamline tax collection, prevent tax evasion, and ensure transparency and accountability within the NBR.