Dhaka, Dec 27 (BDNEWS) – Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Parishad (BSP) and Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) Tuesday demanded the government for tax exemption of imported newsprint for the sake of the industry.
In a statement jointly signed by BSP president Barrister Moinul Hosein and NOAB president Mahbubul Alam, the two top bodies of the country's newspaper industry said that the price of the newsprint in both local and international markets was increasing day by day.
The statement said, while in the other SAARC countries there's a 2.5-6 per cent import tax for per ton newsprint, Bangladesh fixed a rate of 25 per cent. And after paying all other charges like VAT, surcharge or income tax in advance, per ton newsprint costs at Tk 63 thousand.
Besides, the local paper mills increased the price of newsprint twice in the last six months that also reached at Tk 49 thousand per ton, and there's a probability to increase it again for Tk six thousand per ton in January, the statement said.
BSP and NOAB termed the situation antagonist to the freedom of press and demanded tax exemption of imported newsprint.
BDNEWS/2108 hrs
