Country » leading trade bod les Saturday strongly pleaded for continuity of certain re strictlons on import in the new government's policy to protect indigenous industries, reports UNB

Total import liberallation at the present state of economy industries. anSTthe^aspiratlon for reducing dependence on import can never be materialised. some chamber leaders cautioned at a meeting of the Consultative Committee on import at a local hotel

Small importers at the meeting alleged taking the advantage of import liberalisation. a few big business houses were monopolising the total

import trade.

But the Ministry of Commerce, the sponsor of the meeting, during the day-king debate, indicated there was hardly any possibility of impos Ing major restrictions on Im port

The Ministry spokesmen

argued the government had initiated free Import policy ui the suggestion from the pit vale sector itself. Demand foi any reversal of It is self-con tradictory, and the govern merit cannot afford to accorn modate that, they said.

Commerce Minister M Keamat AU led the government side and conducted the meet ing. He was aided by Commerce Secretary Nastmuddin Ahmed, senior of ficials of his ministry and rep resentatlves from Bangladesh Bank and National Board of Revenue (NBR).

On the other side wen- rt p resentatlves of leading cham bers Including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(DCCI) Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCC1). Bangladesh Chambers of Industry (BCI). Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). Khulna Chamber of Commerce and industry (KCCI)and various trade associations

They put forward some 151 suggestions for consideration during formulation of the next Import policy.

Most trade bodies recommended import on the basis of actual needs. But the authorities rejected it. on the plea that the suggestion conflicts with the policy of liberalised Import. ,

The Commerce Minister, however, agreed with the trade bodies that Import has to be closely monitored and every possible data regarding Import and importers be collected and stored.

Most chambers strongly suggested the Import policy should not undergo any mid term revision.

They criticised the government for accepting various conditions of multilateral funding agencies, which they termed totally contradictory to the government policy for industrialization.

The traders also urged the government for taking strong measures checking smuggling and corruption.The consultative committee meeting this time was conduced in a different manner. Commerce Minister didn't make any introductory statement of his own or allow the leading chamber leaders to do so and want direct Into working session.

The Minister even resented presence of press in the meeting.