Govt urged to allow shops to remain open upto 8pm

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FE Report
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Monday urged the government for allowing shops to remain open up to 8:00pm to facilitate the business activities and mitigate the suffering of low-income group.
They said the demand for power at the households and agricultural sector has been reduced, as there are no on-going examinations and pressures on electricity for irrigation purposes declined.
Members of the FBCCI Standing Committee on Electrical and Electronics Merchandise at a meeting Monday held at its conference room unanimously approved of it.
It also asked the government to waive Tk 1000 advance income tax (AIT) during issuing or renewing trade licenses from city corporations.
The Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam in his budget speech on June 7 proposed Tk 1,000 as AIT to be paid by all businesses at the time of issuing or renewing trade licenses.
He also proposed that the AIT will be deductible if the concerned organisations do not fall within the new tax slabs.
Members of the standing committee said implementation of this proposal would raise the magnitude of harassment by the taxmen.
While talking to the FE, Helaluddin, chairman of the standing committee, said they will meet the Energy and Power Adviser Tapan Chowdhury today (Tuesday) to formally request him to permit the shops to remain open up to 8:00pm.
"The people belonging to low-income group in the society usually do their purchases in the evening after returning from places of work. We urge the government to extend the closure time of shops by one hour for the sake of business and poor people," Helal Uddin added.