Realtors and software makers demanded tax and VAT exemption facilities and the creation of fund for the development of their sectors.
Leaders of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) and the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) placed the demands at a meeting on Monday with finance minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office in Dhaka, according to two separate statements.
REHAB president Alamgir Shamsul Alamin led the delegation, which placed a set of proposals to the minister for consideration in the upcoming budget.
The realtors demanded the reduction of plot and flat registration fees to 7.0 per cent from the existing 15 per cent, lowering bank loan interest rate, and the formation of a Tk 200 billion fund to help provide houses to lower and middle income people.
The REHAB leaders also sought the finance minister's support for creating the secondary market in the housing sector by reducing registration fees, stamp duty and gain tax to 3.5 per cent.
REHAB senior vice president Nurun Nabi Chowdhury (Shaon), vice presidents Liakat Ali Bhuiyan, and Abdul Kauiam Chowdhury also attended the meeting.
BASIS senior vice president Farhana A Rahman led the association's delegation at the meeting with the finance minister.
In the meeting, issues like tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) on software and information technology products and services, the simplification of issuing tax exemption certificate from the national board of revenue, lifting tax at source, and resuming the process of equity entrepreneurs' fund came up for discussion.
The BASIS leaders also emphasised taking initiatives from the government, encouraging local organisations to use domestic software and Information Technology (IT) services.
BASIS vice presidents Shoeb Ahmed Masud, Mushfiqur Rahman, and directors Mustafa Rafiqul Islam and Didarul Alam were present, among others.
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