Importers to halt fruit unloading at Ctg port, all land ports

Importers have decided to suspend the unloading of imported fruits at Chittagong Port on Tuesday (February 4) and Wednesday (February 5) due to the government's failure to withdraw the increased VAT and additional duty on fresh fruit imports. 

This decision also extends to all land ports across the country for the same period.

Muhammad Touhidul Alam, Organising Secretary of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association and General Secretary of the Chittagong Fruit Traders Association, confirmed the move to Jago News. He stated that importers will halt fruit unloading at all land ports nationwide for these two days in protest.

On Monday (February 3), importers and traders organised a human chain and sit-in demonstration outside the National Board of Revenue (NBR) office in Dhaka as part of a programme announced by the central committee of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association. 

Touhidul Alam explained, "We submitted a memorandum to the NBR demanding the withdrawal of the increased VAT and additional duty on fresh fruit imports. Since our demands have not been addressed, we have decided to stop unloading fresh fruits at all land ports, including Chittagong Port, on February 4 and 5." 

He added that the price hike caused by the increased taxes has led to sluggish sales in the market. "Fruits are no longer selling well because of the higher prices," he said. If their demands remain unmet by February 13, importers plan to extend the suspension indefinitely starting February 14.