Annual sugar demand 1.4 mln tonnes

Bangladesh requires 1.4 million tonnes of sugar every year, 92 percent of which is met through imports.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu disclosed this at Parliament on Thursday.

He suggested control of ‘excessive import’ of sugar, one of the main essential commodities.

To a question, the minister said 15 local sugar mills met only 7-8 percent of the demand while the rest had to be imported.

Amu said dealers were reluctant to sell local sugar due to its colour.

He said ‘excessive import’ of sugar might be controlled through the commerce ministry to protect local industries and save the foreign exchange reserves.

During the Thursday’s session, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu in written reply to a question said that Indian law did not deter ‘down-linking’ of Bangladeshi TV channels.

“The deterrent is high down-linking fee (in India),” he said.

Inu said they were trying to cut the down-linking fee through the foreign ministry.

An MP observed that Bangladeshi viewers were being inclined to Indian TV programmes as local channels aired ‘excessive ads’. He sought measures to change the scenario.

Presenting the written replies of the information minister, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said: “It is right that viewers switch over to other channels because of excessive ads. But there is no advertisement policy for private TV channels. A guideline can be issued on the matter in future.”

He assured that media would not be gagged through the recently formulated National Broadcast Policy.

Referring to the ongoing debates on the policy, the minister said: “We can formulate a transparent and acceptable policy through debates and discussions. It’s a policy, not a law.”

To a question from another MP, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said presently there were 192,924 income-taxpayers in the country.