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With transportation and ancillary costs, the landed cost rises to 130-132 percent.

The association said the cost structure, alongside rising global paper prices and Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imports, has placed the sector under severe financial stress.

“The industry is going through a critical phase. Without immediate fiscal relief, sustaining operations will become increasingly difficult,” said Noab President Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, calling for a full withdrawal of import duty on newsprint.

The association also highlighted the burden of advance and withholding taxes. Under the Income Tax Act 2023, a 5 percent tax deducted at source (TDS) on advertisement revenue and a 5 percent AIT on raw material imports create a combined 10 percent upfront tax burden, even though profit margins are often lower.

As a result, a large portion of these taxes remains unadjusted, locking up funds and creating liquidity pressure for media houses.

“Reducing TDS on advertisement income and AIT on imports is crucial to ease cash flow pressure,” Matiur said.

Newspaper owners also sought a lower corporate tax rate, arguing that newspapers are taxed like conventional businesses despite serving as a public good. While priority sectors enjoy rates between 10 and 12 percent, newspapers receive no such benefit.

“A reduced corporate tax rate of 10 percent would be justified and timely policy support.”

Noab also pointed out inconsistencies in employee income tax rules. While the Income Tax Act 2023 places the burden on individuals, the Newspaper Wage Board requires organisations to bear it. Publishers called for alignment of the two frameworks.

In response, the NBR Chair Abdur Rahman said proposals on AIT, TDS, and VAT would be considered and placed before the finance minister, adding that the government would not increase corporate tax rates.

On the issue of organisations bearing employees’ taxes, he said, “We will propose in the next Wage Board to consider the matter,” noting that such a move could trigger demands for salary hikes.

At the meeting, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman said, “For the past 15 to 16 years, newspapers have been subjected to repression and have operated under very difficult conditions. Even in the last one and a half to two years, things have not improved. Two newspaper offices were set on fire.

“Speaking for our own paper, it costs a total of 28 taka to produce a single copy. But readership is declining, advertising is falling, and revenue is shrinking. Like all industries, we also seek support and cooperation from the government.”

He added, “The ready-made garment industry pays 10 to 12 percent corporate tax, whereas we pay 27.5 percent. It is a reasonable ask to reduce this rate.”

Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor and publisher of the daily Bonik Barta, said that those already within the tax net are being subjected to additional pressure to pay more taxes.

He also urged a review of whether the tax-to-GDP ratio calculations are accurate.