Dhaka, May 14 (UNB) – Leaders of the Bangladesh Ceramic Wares Manufacturers’ Association (BCWMA) has put forward a set of proposals for the ensuing national budget, including fixing duty at one percent on import of sector-related capital machinery and other accessories.

The association leaders, led by its president Iftakher Uddin Farhad, placed the recommendations before the Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office on Monday.

The BCWMA demanded fixing of duty at one percent on import of capital machinery and all kinds of machineries and accessories by the local and export-oriented ceramics industries.

They also demanded the government fully withdraw the 15 percent supplementary duty at production stage of all environment-friendly local ceramic tiles and sanitary ware industries.

The Association also urged the Finance Minister to lower import duty on essential raw materials like bone ash, aluminum ball/grinding medium at 5 percent from the existing 12 percent as also to reduce the import duty on cover coat, silex lining/stone, flint/grinding pebbles at 5 percent from the existing 25 percent.

Besides, they demanded reduction of import duty of 10 main raw materials used in the ceramics industry at 3 percent from the existing 5 percent.

In response, the Finance Minister told the delegation that he would consider their proposals and recommendations.

The Association leaders said there are some 50 tiles and sanitary industries in the country with an aggregate local and foreign investment of Tk 4,000 crore as well as giving Tk 2,000 crore to the national exchequer every year.