The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been urged by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to continue and settle down the existing 0.30 per cent tax at source on export for the next five years. The apex body has also requested the NBR to exempt the apparel makers from all kind of tax including import-duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Advance Income Tax (AIT) on the import of construction materials for the factories to be constructed in Garment Economic Zone.

Atiqul Islam, President of BGMEA, has demanded same sort of tax benefits for importing Fire Proof Colour Coating to be used as pre-fabricated building materials. He further added that buyers representing 220 brands from across the world can now have updated information on 1,700 factories under the platform of BGMEA. They can also be informed about any crack or any error in the factories from BGMEA website, so no factories excepting the compliant ones can run business in Bangladesh.

As for the upcoming Budget, the BGMEA President opined it will be a challenging one. Demanding special benefits for RMG sector from NBR, Islam also recommended the NBR to continue income tax at a minimised rate of 10 per cent for the next five years.