The Ministry of Commerce has recommended cutting customs duties on cooking oil, sugar and dates ahead of Ramadan based on demands from traders. Currently, sugar, which was priced at Tk 65-70 two years ago, cannot be bought for less than Tk 140 per kg on the market. Currently, there is a 15 per cent duty at the import stage of cooking oil, a 15 per cent duty on the production stage and another 5 per cent duty at the distribution stage, said Biswajit Saha, director of City Group. Sirajul Islam, president of the Fruit Importers Association, said the duty on unpackaged dates was Tk 5-10 per kg and that on packaged dates was Tk 30. But, following the recent hike in the duty on dates, the amount had risen to Tk 70 per kg on unpackaged dates and Tk 145 per kg on packaged dates.

Source: bd News24 January 23, 2024 14:57 UTC