They proposed reduction of duties on raw material imports to a minimum of 2.5 percent from existing 7.5 percent to help the local industries grow and prepare for facing the post-MFA (multi-fibre arrangement) challenges.

Led by President of the Federation of Bangladesh Cham-bers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo the business leaders met NBR Chairman Khairuzzaman Chowdhury and put forward the suggestions.

They urged the government to make the process of tax, duties and VAT collection easier and transparent. The NBR chairman assured the businessmen of considering their suggestions in preparing the next national budget.

Seeking support from the businesspeople in expanding the tax net, the NBR chief said tax-GDP ratio in Bangladesh is still very low. The government's efforts to increase the number of taxpayers failed to achieve desired goal, he added.

The FBCCI president also stressed the need for increasing the number of taxpayers. He said the number of car users and apartment buyers has increased in these days but the taxpayers' number did not increase at the same rate.

Mintoo said middle class people who comprise 12 percent of the total population should pay taxes though the amount may be small.

Abdul Hafiz Chowdhury who joined the meeting on behalf of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka, sought transparency at both the government and businesspeople's sides in tax collection process.

The delegation included representatives from major business bodies including Dhaka Chamber, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, BGMEA and Khulna Chamber.