Bangladesh fruit importers halt unloading at ports over tax hikes
Fruit importers in Bangladesh have decided to suspend the unloading of imported fruits at Chittagong Port on February 4 and 5, protesting the government's failure to withdraw the recently increased VAT and additional duties on fresh fruit imports. This suspension also applies to all land ports across the country during 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. He stated that importers would stop unloading fresh fruits nationwide for two days as part of their protest against the increased tax burden.
The protest follows a demonstration held on February 3, when importers and traders formed a human chain and staged a sit-in outside the National Board of Revenue (NBR) office in Dhaka. The demonstration was part of a program organized by the central committee of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, where industry representatives submitted a memorandum demanding the withdrawal of the tax hikes.
According to Touhidul Alam, the price increase caused by the additional taxes has significantly slowed down sales in the market. He explained that fresh fruits have become less affordable for consumers, leading to a decline in demand. "Fruits are no longer selling well because of the higher prices," he said, emphasizing the financial strain the new taxes have placed on both importers and buyers.
Importers have warned that if their demands are not met by February 13, they will extend the suspension indefinitely from February 14 onward. The industry continues to push for policy changes, urging the government to reconsider the increased taxation to prevent further disruptions in the fruit trade.
