Import through Banglabandha comes to a halt

Bangladeshi traders have suspended imports of goods through Banglabandha land port yesterday, protesting an increase in supplementary duty by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The NBR announced a 20 percent increase in supplementary duty on goods imported from India, said
ABM Anwarul Baset, officer of customs, excise and VAT at Banglabandha LC Station.
The importers said they would bear rising costs as a result of the change. Before the increase, for example, each shipment of 500 tonnes of stones would cost around Tk 2.08 lakh, which will now be Tk 3.16 lakh.
“The importers have stopped import protesting the increase in supplementary duty,” said Rezaul Karim, president of C&F Agent Association.
The decision to stop imports has stranded around 200 stone-laden trucks at Fhulbari land port in India.