Bangladesh businesses push for import fee cuts

Additionally, they advocate for boosting logistics capacity, enhancing communication and road transport infrastructure, and curbing ‘unnecessary harassment’ of traders at the ports.

These demands surfaced during a recent meeting of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) Standing Committee on Land Port, Border Trade, Transit, and Transshipment for Sylhet Division at the chamber office in capital Dhaka.

Chamber president Mahbubul Alam, addressing the meeting as the chief guest, emphasised the pivotal role played by land ports and customs stations amid the country’s expanding trade, commerce, and industry landscape even as he highlighted the substantial volume of imports, particularly from India, amounting to around $16 billion annually, with a significant portion transacted via land trade.

Alam stressed the urgency of augmenting the capacity of land ports and customs stations to support the nation’s burgeoning international trade.

In response to the import-export challenges, especially at land ports and customs stations, the chamber president asked for proposals from business stakeholders.

During the meeting, committee chairman Ahmed Sakhawat Salim Chowdhury highlighted the critical importance of developing road transport and communication infrastructure at land ports and customs stations.

Such improvements, he argued, are essential for reducing transportation costs and enhancing the competitive edge of businesses.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)