CPD for cutting diesel, kerosene prices

Think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) today advocated for cutting prices of kerosene and diesel in the next budget for the benefit of lower income people.

“Prices must be reduced. Making profit from these fuels is not justified from social point of view as poor people use them,” CPD Research Fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan said.

He was presenting CPD’s set of recommendations for the national budget for upcoming fiscal 2017-18, which will be placed in June, at Brac Centre in Dhaka.

The independent body also vouched for lowering the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 12 percent instead of the uniform 15 percent.

“It is reckoned that Bangladesh’s proposed uniform VAT rate is on the high side when compared to her neighbouring low and middle-income countries in South and East Asia,” he said.

Chaired by CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun, CPD Distinguished Fellows Debapriya Bhattacharya and Professor Mustafizur Rahman also spoke at the occasion.