Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association urges government to rethink duties hikes

In a press conference, BCMA President Alamgir Kabir said that the proposed 40% tariff increase would disproportionately burden the cement industry, which is already facing higher costs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the depreciation of the Bangladeshi taka (BDT).

Kabir urged the government to reconsider the proposed tariff increase and to treat the cement industry as a "priority sector." He said that the cement industry is a major contributor to the Bangladeshi economy, and that the proposed tariff increase would have a negative impact on the country's economic growth.

The government defended the increased duty on clinker, arguing that it is necessary to defend local industry against unfair competition from external actors, yet the BCMA have countered that, in fact, the policy will actually harm the local cement industry by increasing production costs.

The BCMA has called on the government to hold further discussions with the industry before making a final decision on the proposed tariff increase.

This bulletin was written using materials from a report by the New Age newspaper, read the original story here.

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