& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Trade bodies’ instant reaction

By Staff Correspondent
Some chambers of commerce and business leaders have hailed the new budget saying it will bring about overall development of the country.
The president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industry (BCD Sharif M Afzal Hossain. welcomed the budget for giving highest allocation in the Annual Development Programme. reducing the corporate
tax and imposing safeguard duty to protect the local industries.
He welcomed the proposal to allocate 23 per cent from the revenue budget for poverty alleviation. and the decision to set up an infrastructure development bank, a housing project bank and a youth employment bank.
The BCI president, however, was critical about imposition of new taxes on textile machinery tractors.
According to him, the new tax on these items will affect the backward linkage industries for the garments sector and hamper agricultural production.
Afzal also welcomed the re-
duction of duties on bus. minibus, truck and taxi cab and said these would make the transport easily available.
Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Chairman M A Huq Hawlader said the increase of quota on primary issues for Non Residential Bangladeshis and reduction of corporate tax in the proposed budget would strengthen the share market.
Due to reduction of corporate tax. the deposit of DSE listed companies would increase enabling them to give more dividend. Hawlader said.
As the country's flourishing capital market needs long term investment, the Non-Residential Bangladeshis would get more facilities to invest their money here due to increase of their quota from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, he noted.
President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry ASM Quasem said, he was reading the copy of the budget and would make comments after finishing the reading. He declined to make any comment instantly.
President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zafrul Islam said that the proposed budget would increase the suffering of the poor due to heavy burden of revenue and tax.
Giving his instant reaction to the new budget. Zafrul said that it would have a negative impact on the country's industrial sector and decrease the per capita income.
Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbub Jamil said they would held an urgent meeting today and give their reaction after the meeting.
Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mostafa Golam Quddus also said an urgent meeting of the BGMEA executive body would be held on Sunday when they would review the new budget.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and In-dustry (FBCCI) president Yousuf Abdullah Harun and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Samson H Chowdhury were not available over telephone for comments.
BSS adds: The Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in a statement issued to the press last night hailed the proposed national budget
Tne KCCI said, the budget is welfare-oriented and it attaches due emphasis on education, agriculture, electricity and lo-cal industries.
BSS adds: Acting president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Salahud-din Raju. last night termed the proposed national budget people-oriented and said that the general people would be benefited in all respect.
In his reaction. Md Ismat Reza Khan Manu. President of Rajshahi Brick Manufacturing* Association, said the proposed national budget was a development-oriented one and it would help develop the industry, agriculture and transportation sectors of the country.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters' Association Dr Aftabuzzaman has said the new budget may help increase foreign exchange earnings.