Date tax cut decision for dates expected this week

The government is expected to announce its decision on duties and taxes on imported dates this week as it seeks to increase supplies of dates, oranges and other imported fruits and keep prices stable.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir urged importers to open letters of credit (LCs) quickly and increase imports to ensure adequate supplies.

He made the remarks at a meeting with fruit traders and representatives of relevant government agencies at the Secretariat on Saturday.

“The government’s decision on duties on dates will be announced this week,” the minister said.

The government is also taking steps to resolve longstanding complications over the assessment value of imported dates. The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission is expected to meet importers within the next few days to review international source prices for different qualities and grades of dates and determine a reasonable reference value.

The commission will later submit its proposal to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

The minister said the customs valuation system should protect businesses from unreasonable assessments while preventing opportunities for importers to understate prices and evade revenue.

He called on both the government and businesses to maintain transparency and integrity, warning that attempts at manipulation by either side could undermine confidence in the system.

An NBR representative said the actual purchase prices of dates vary by quality and grade, but these differences are not always adequately reflected in customs valuation. The meeting discussed considering international market and source prices to establish more realistic values.

Date importers said international shipping and port-related complications have increased the time needed to bring dates into Bangladesh, making a quick decision on duties and taxes necessary to ensure timely supplies.

Traders also assured the government that they would increase imports of oranges and other foreign fruits from alternative sources.

The government said it would review reasonable issues related to duties and taxes, customs valuation and import procedures.

Senior officials from the Commerce Ministry, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the NBR, along with leaders of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, attended the meeting.