Business leaders in Chattogram have urged the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry to raise their concerns with the authorities, calling for an end to alleged harassment over dealing licences, illegal street hawking, arbitrary trade fair permits and the discontinuation of the package VAT system.
They also demanded the restoration of the previous package VAT system for small and medium-sized businesses, saying the occupation of footpaths and roads by unauthorised hawkers was disrupting customer access to established markets and causing financial losses to retailers.
The demands were raised at an exchange meeting between chamber leaders and representatives of different market associations at the World Trade Centre in Chattogram today (9 November), according to a press release.
Chamber President Amirul Haque said the organisation was working to make Chattogram a modern, orderly and business-friendly commercial city by identifying traders’ problems and coordinating with relevant authorities to resolve them.
“We are always beside the business community to protect their interests, remove obstacles to business operations and make commercial activities in Chattogram more dynamic,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, he assured traders that the chamber would discuss the issues with relevant government offices and agencies to find lasting solutions.
Haque called for collective efforts to build a clean, traffic-free and hawker-free commercial city.
He also assured traders that the chamber would raise concerns over alleged harassment by administrative authorities in the name of dealing licences and mobile court operations, as well as the indiscriminate issuance of trade fair permits.
The chamber would also work with relevant government agencies to restore the previous package VAT system, he said.
Market association leaders alleged that unauthorised hawkers were occupying footpaths and roads without paying taxes or VAT, obstructing the movement of shoppers and traders and causing substantial financial losses to established businesses.
They urged the chamber to coordinate with the authorities to clear footpaths and roads of illegal occupation, restore package VAT for small and medium-sized traders, prevent administrative harassment and stop the indiscriminate organisation of trade fairs.
They also sought the chamber president’s intervention in securing clear guidelines on market closures during government holidays, including area-based arrangements.
Separately, Haque urged market owners and shopping mall managements to install rooftop solar power systems using their own resources.
He said solar installations could help shopping centres meet part of their electricity demand and generate financial benefits through net metering.
Such arrangements could also help markets avoid mandatory closures during specified hours, he added.
Chamber Senior Vice-President Md Amjad Hossain Chowdhury said the organisation worked to support businesses of all sizes, from small and medium enterprises to large industrial establishments.
He said the chamber would continue to prioritise legitimate business concerns through collective efforts.
Former chamber Senior Vice-President MA Salam, chamber directors Md Afsar Hasan Chowdhury (Jasim) and Asad Iftikhar, and representatives of different market associations also spoke at the meeting.
Among the participants were MA Mannan, president of the Terry Bazar Shop Owners Association; Touhidul Alam, general secretary of the Fruit Traders Association; Monir Hossain of the Central Plaza Business Association; and Mozammel Haque, general secretary of the Jamalkhan Lane Business Association.
Representatives of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, Police Plaza Shop Owners Association and other market and business organisations also attended.
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