Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association or BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said, inflation can't be curbed or reduced without curbing extortion.
"It is not possible to reduce it. Because as before, extortion is still happening in markets like Jatrabari and Karwan Bazar where transport workers are collection tools unabated. If extortion in the transport sector is stopped, inflation will come down" he said.
He made the observation at a roundtable discussion titled 'Additional Tax Burden on Consumers' Shoulders: What to Do to Overcome' organized by Jagonews at the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Conference Hall in the capital on Wednesday.
The programme, moderated by Jagonews Acting Editor KM Ziaul Haque, included speeches by economist and CPD Research Director Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman Dr M Masrur Riaz, economist Dr M M Akash, and PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury.
Former BIDS Director General Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former Board of Revenue member Rezaul Hasan, former Dhaka Chamber President Ashraf Ahmed, CAB Vice President SM Nazer Hossain, ERF President Daulat Akhter Mala, former banker Saiful Hossain and Supermarket Owners Association General Secretary Md. Zakir Hossain participated.
Mohammad Hatem said, "I have heard from media reporte that former Home Minister used to receive Tk 1.5 crore in extortion every night. Now there has been a change, but has extortion changed, he wondered.
Extortion is still happening in other markets including Jatrabari, who is doing it, it must be stopped. If it is not stopped, inflation will not come down, because the prices of goods will remain high."
He said "Our export-oriented industry's vehicles are being stopped at several points in Sharif Melamine Kanchpur Bridge, Narayanganj. Exporters are being harassed there. At these points, they stop vehicles and demand copies of LC but it is not possible always to take them all the time.
After that, fines are being imposed, for no reason. This kind of unfair harassment should be stopped. Due to this, shipments hamper. Many businessmen immediately told me that I must intervene and find a solution.
How many problems will be solved? On Tuesday, 39 companies' vehicles were stopped; maybe five or six were released. This harassment should be stopped."
He complained, "Although zero VAT was said for export-oriented industries, VAT was imposed on various pretexts. Suddenly, a businessman's VAT of Tk 11 crore is being prepared without any signature.
Later, it was asked for negotiation and settled at two or three crore. "In the interest of exports, businessmen do not want to be harassed in the name of VAT," he said.
