Bangladeshi government urged to proclaim raw jute an agro-product by shippers

The Bangladeshi government is being strongly urged to proclaim raw jute an agriculture product and also demanded increase in export subsidy on jute yarn which is currently 7.5 percent to 10 percent by the Shippers Council of Bangladesh (SCB).

They have also demand the government without more ado to pay Tk2.5 billion in arrears to the jute traders before the start of raw jute purchase which will begin from July.

Apart from this, SCB has also put forward other proposals to the government. They have proposed inclusion of two persons from the SCB in the advisory committee on jute affairs, resolving the existing problems with the raw jute export, involving foreign missions in promoting export of raw jute and jute goods, full implementation of the jute packaging act and exemption of the jute sector from all kinds of Value Added Tax (VAT) and tax at source.

Their demand came at a meeting with State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam at his Secretariat office on May 8, 2014. According to SCB, they had a fruitful meeting and are hopeful that the government will consider their proposals actively as the state minister has given assurance that their problem will be looked into and will be resolved.