Low transit fee not acceptable

BNP yesterday said the transit or trans-shipment fee set at Tk 580 for transport of each tonne of Indian goods through Bangladesh was not acceptable. 

"We are not against giving transit or trans-shipment facilities to India as they are our neighbour and they helped us during our Liberation War. But we want a fair amount of transit tax as India will be hugely benefited from transit," said BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He was addressing a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

Ripon said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) had earlier proposed a fee of Tk 1,000 but it was opposed by Prime Minister's Economic Adviser Mashiur Rahman.

"We think the government reduced the transit fee in a bid to please India because it is morally weak," he said.

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman yesterday cautioned the government that the country's political situation might take a serious turn if it was not solved.

"A political crisis has gripped the country; the situation is getting worse gradually. A devastating storm may lash the political landscape if it is not solved soon; the government won't be able to save itself from the political disaster adopting an ostrich policy," he said.

Addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, he said, "We would like to tell the government 'resolve the crisis and hold a fair and inclusive election before time runs out. Or else, the crisis will invite a disaster that may badly attack the foundation of our national existence and security'."