Budget to be amended 'if it goes against domestic interests'

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Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam Sunday said the government will amend the budget if any proposal is found to hurt domestic interests, bdnews24.com.
"We are taking opinions and suggestions on the proposed budget. We must amend if anything goes against the country's interests," Azizul told reporters after inaugurating a handbook on 'Entity-wide Auditing' at the Audit Bhaban in the city.
Top trade bodies, including FBCCI, BGMEA and BKMEA have differed with the finance adviser over enhancing import duty from 5.0 per cent to 10 per cent on basic raw materials and capital machinery.
The adviser, however, said, "We must keep in mind the government needs tax. We're taking opinions on how the proposal would affect local industry."
The adviser reiterated that the proposal would not put any significant impact on the industry as the government also proposed complete withdrawal of 4.0 per cent infrastructure development surcharge.
Local industrialists feared withdrawal of infrastructure development surcharge would accelerate imports of finished products, which may jeopardise domestic industry.
The country's apex trade body, FBCCI, Saturday opposed the proposed import duty hike and asked the government to cancel the proposal for the sake of the industry.
"It is a wrong signal for the local industry which is improving gradually," FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain told a post-budget press conference at its office Saturday. "No doubt, it is going to affect local industry," he said.
The finance adviser Thursday proposed to restructure the three-tier import duty slabs at 10 per cent, 15 per cent and 25 per cent from 5.0 per cent, 12 per cent and 25 per cent respectively for the fiscal year starting on July 1.