Print media owners yesterday once again sought duty and VAT waiver from newsprint import to help the industry flourish.

The print media, which has to import newsprint due to the poor quality of the locally-produced ones, now faces 5 percent

duty and 15 percent VAT for importing newsprint.

"Our newspaper industry is still flourishing, although we are facing competition from electronic media," said Matiur Rahman, president of Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (Noab). The removal of import duty will be of great support to us," Matlur Rahman, president of Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (Noab), said at a meeting with the officials of National Board of Revenue.

The revenue authority organised the meeting at its headquarters as part of its preparations for the drafting of fiscal 2015-16 budget.

Noab said the newspaper industry deserves VAT exemption as newspaper plays the role of a service providing organisation, contributing to the welfare of people.

Rahman, also the editor of the Prothom Alo, the biggest Bangla daily, said the industry needs support as it has faced various challenges in the last few years due to volatile politics and other factors.

He also demanded the withdrawal of 15 percent VAT at import stage of newsprint, as the rebate against the paid VAT cannot be claimed after printing newspaper.

The newsprint is the basic raw material of newspaper. If the paper industry gets VAT waiver from pulp import, newspapers should also get the same benefit, he said, adding that newsprint and printing accounts for 70 percent of the basic cost for newspapers.

The industry enjoyed duty-free import benefit during fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The government discontinued the benefit in fiscal 2009-10 and slapped 5 percent duty on newsprint import.

Noab Vice-President AK Azad, also the publisher of Bangla daily Samakal, said newspapers have to import newsprint because of the low-quality of the locally produced alternatives. Newspapers have to pay a total of 22 percent duty and taxes for importing paper, he said.

"It is easy for big print media houses to afford the cost. But withdrawal is necessary to protect small and medium newspapers. Many houses are yet to implement the 8th wage board for journalists," he added.

Mahfiiz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said revenue collection from duty on newspaper import would be insignificant from the viewpoint of overall revenue collection and national budget of the state

The society benefits much more from a free and vibrant media, Anam said. He said the media will be with the revenue authority with all its campaigns for reforms.

Noab Member AHM Moazzem Hossain, also the editor of the Financial Express, advised the NBR to widen its tax net to augment revenue colleaion, instead of imposing a high tax burden on the existing taxpayers.

The association also sought withdrwal of the provision from obtaining advance tax payement certificatates or vouchers that advertising agencies dedua from the advertisement bills and deposit to the exchequer.

But non-availibility and difficulty to obtain the certificates or vouchers force newspapers to pay double taxes on advertisement bills. "Such a condition should be scrapped in the upcoming budget," said Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of the News Today.

It is a big problem to arrange chalan from the advertsing agencies as they are scattered in diffrent areas, he said, adding that there is a commitment from the finance minister with regards to scrapping the rules. Noab Treasurer Matiur Rahman Ghowdhury, members Tasmima Hossain and Altamas Kabir also spoke at the event, which was chaired by NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman.