Dhaka //

When the lives of the common man are in a state of shock due to the continuous increase in commodity prices, the value-added tax or VAT has been increased on 65 services and goods. There is widespread criticism of this VAT imposition.

However, the interim government has said that VAT and taxes will be well coordinated in the next budget.

When journalists asked about the VAT increase at the secretariat on Tuesday, Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, why VAT and customs duties were increased will be known after a few days. However, VAT and taxes will be well coordinated in the next budget. At this time, he regretted that the level at which VAT has been increased can the price of such products increase. Medicines, mobile phones, fruit juices have been reduced. However, the price of milk has increased. It is not supposed to increase.

In the earlier meeting of the Advisory Council on Economic Affairs, direct approval was given for the purchase of agricultural products and related services under the ‘Special OMS’ program. Then, the Advisory Council on Procurement met. It was decided to purchase urea fertilizer and steel cross arms for rural electricity. The Finance Advisor presided over both meetings.

When asked about the dearness allowance of government employees at that time, the Finance Advisor refused to comment.

Meeting of the Advisory Council on Procurement: The proposal to import and purchase fertilizer worth Tk 756 crore from four countries and local markets was approved in this committee meeting. The amount of this fertilizer is 1 lakh 50 thousand tons, of which 1 lakh 20 thousand tons are urea and 30 thousand tons are phosphoric acid.

Regarding the purchase of fertilizer, the Finance Advisor said that when the government’s buffer stock decreases, the price of fertilizer is increased at the private level. Therefore, in today’s meeting, the stock is being increased by allowing imports.

It is learned that 30 thousand metric tons of urea will be imported from Fertiglobe Distribution Ltd. of the United Arab Emirates. The cost will be 132 crore taka. In addition, 30 thousand metric tons of urea will be brought from Sabic Agro-Nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia. The cost will be 132 crore taka. In addition, a proposal to import 30 thousand metric tons of urea fertilizer from Qatar Energy Marketing through a state agreement has been approved. This will cost about 139 crore taka. A proposal to purchase 30 thousand metric tons of urea fertilizer from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO), Bangladesh has been approved. The cost will be 129 crore taka.

In that meeting, 10 thousand tons of phosphoric acid will be imported from M/s. Gentrade FZE of the United Arab Emirates and 20 thousand metric tons from M/s. Guangxi Pengwei Eco-Technology Co. Ltd. of China for TSPCL in Chittagong. This will cost 224 crore taka.

In addition, it was decided to purchase steel cross arms worth Tk 70 crore for rural electricity. 3 lakh 17 thousand 712 steel cross arms will be purchased for the purpose of modernizing the distribution system of Bangladesh Rural Electricity Board (BRAPIB) in Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions.

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