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DHAKA, Aug 28, 2024 (BSS) - Adviser to the interim government on the 
Ministries of Finance and Commerce Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has sought support of 
the country's business community to keep the supply chain of essentials like 
edible oil and sugar operative and normal.

"In our country, there is a vast consumption of edible oil and sugar among 
all the essential items and the present government wants to keep the supply 
chain of such items operative and normal and also to reach those to common 
people at rational prices. We want the support of businessmen in this 
regard," he said.

The Commerce Adviser said this when the owners and representatives of 
country's six major edible oil and sugar refiners met him at his Economic 
Relations Division (ERD) office in the capital yesterday, said a Commerce 
Ministry press release here today.

Mentioning that steps would be taken to facilitate opening up letters of 
credit (LCs) and reducing LC margin, he said prices of commodities could not 
be increased by any means. "We'll have to minimize bad practice in trade and 
commerce," he added.

The businessmen who were present in the meeting mentioned that they have to 
pay Taka 42 as VAT and other taxes in per kilogram of sugar which is totally 
unjustified and not in practice in other countries of the world.

They also demanded for reorganizing the existing tax and VAT structure.

The major edible oil and sugar refiners also appraised the Finance and 
Commerce Adviser about the current demand and stockpile of essential 
commodities in the country.

Representatives of Deshbandhu Group, Meghna Group, S Alam Group, TK Group and 
Citigroup attended the meeting, among others.