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Call for phasing out clay bricks

FE REPORT | March 09, 2025 00:00:00


The country's concrete block manufacturers on Saturday urged the government to implement its decision to completely phase out the traditional clay bricks in public infrastructure development projects.

Despite a government plan to replace clay-burnt bricks with concrete blocks by FY 2024-25, the use of concrete blocks remains below 20 per cent, they said. Due to stakeholders' negligence to enforce the government decision, block manufacturers have been facing serious trouble, they added.

A trade body of concrete block makers, Bangladesh Concrete Blocks Prostutkarak Malik Somite (BCBPMS), came up with the call at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

BCBPMS President Shakawat Hossain, also a retired lieutenant colonel, its General Secretary Mustafizur Rahman and other office-bearers were present at the conference.

Addressing the reporters, Shakawat Hossain said concrete block is a green product as it helps save top soil of agrarian land and environment. "On the one hand, the agriculture sector is being affected, and on the other, environment is being polluted due to the coal burning while producing the traditional bricks," he said.

Considering the overall situation, the government issued a circular to gradually phase out traditional bricks by FY 2025, he said. "Most government  organisations are still using traditional bricks in the construction work. Due to a lack of proper initiatives, and various complexities, the policy has not been effectively implemented," he said.

According to the government's eighth Five-Year Plan, no burnt clay bricks should be used in any public projects after 2025, he said, adding that the current reality is far from that. He further emphasised that the failure to implement the policy has led to stagnation in the concrete block manufacturing sector.

"Many factories are facing losses due to unsold stock, and some have been even forced to shut down. This discouraging situation is preventing new entrepreneurs from investing in the industry," he added. He also said that they face discrimination as they have to pay higher value added tax (VAT) comparing to the VAT paid by traditional brick manufacturers despite the fact that their product is eco-friendly.

Mr Hossain claimed that the tax rate on concrete blocks is nearly 23 times higher than that of traditional bricks. "Currently, VAT on clay bricks is only Tk 0.08 per piece, whereas the VAT is Tk 1.80 per piece on environment-friendly concrete blocks," he said.

At the event, manufacturers also said that factory operators have to pay exceedingly higher tax on pallets, a crucial component of block-making machinery. They urged the government to exempt the sector from all kind of taxes for the next five years as well as take necessary steps to promote the eco-friendly building materials.

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