Rajshahi small traders vow to stop VAT payment

A procession was brought out after the rally, held at the Masjid Chattar.

Speakers at the rally called upon the government to withdraw VAT from retail sale. VAT collection by the government will not necessary if corruption is controlled, they said.

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Presided by president of the Parishad Mosarraf Hossain Akhanji, the rally was addressed by its general secretary Farid Mahmud Hasan, Alhaj Zillur Rahman, Atahar Ali, Nurun Nabi Lul, Binal Kr Sankar, Saidur Rahman Chandan and Abu Tayeb Rokon.

They said VAT has a chain reaction from production to retail sale as it increases prices of commodities. This hampers growth of small industries.

A large number of small traders and retailers joined the rally and the procession with banners. They kept their shops shut from 2 pm to 6 pm for the programmes.

It looked like an undeclared hartal in the city as most of the shops remained closed during the demonstrations. Many city dwellers said the unprecedented unity of traders surprised them.