Feed industries owners demand removal of 5 pc tax on import

FT ONLINE

Urging the government to save the poultry sector of the country, feed industries owners on Saturday demanded the withdrawal of five percent advanced tax on import of raw materials of poultry and fish feed.

Although the feed industries are import-dependent they are heavily taxed which is unfair and responsible for the increased price of meat, egg and fish, they said.

They came up with the call at a press conference arranged by the Feed Industries Owners Association of Bangladesh (FIAB) at the Jatiya Press Club.

While presenting the keynote paper FIAB General Secretary Ahsanuzzaman said, "The cost of feed production has gone up. For broiler chicken, it has increased by Tk 8 to 10; for fish by Tk 7 to 8 and for egg production, it has increased by Tk 1. All thanks to imposing advanced taxes on raw material import and delay in the release from port."

He also mentioned that the prices of eggs and chicken will go beyond the capacity of ordinary people if the situation continues.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) Chairman Mosiur Rahman said the small scale poultry farmers are facing several challenges that is putting the whole industry in danger.

"Low-income farmers are not getting single-digit loan facility. Power Development Board (PDB) is denying the 20 percent discount on electricity bills which the farmers were offered before," he said.

FIAB Chairman Ihtesham B Shahjahan also spoke at the programme.