Now reconditioned vehicle importers seek government aid
They demand a waiver of port fares until December this year against vehicles imported through Chattogram and Mongla sea ports
The importers and traders of reconditioned vehicles have sought government incentives to overcome their economic crisis and a possible business shock due to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide shutdown.
Like all other sectors, imports and sales of reconditioned vehicles also got stopped in the country, said the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (Barvida).
"We seek some operational supports from the government to overcome the crisis and keep the sector afloat in coming days," said Barvida President Abdul Haque.
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In a statement on Saturday, Barvida expressed its hope that "the business-friendly" and "pro-people" government would stretch its hand to minimise the losses of reconditioned vehicle importers and dealers.
They demanded a waiver of port fares until December this year against vehicles imported through Chattogram and Mongla sea ports.
As everything is stalled, the customs authority should halt car auctions in ports until the end of this year, requested Barvida.
The Bangladesh Bank has already announced a facility for borrowers to avert being a loan defaulter in case of non-payment of instalments until June 2020. Barvida demanded the facility to be extended up to December.
They also demanded concessional loans to car importers and dealers in proportion to their annual turnover.
Besides, businesses and industries should get financial incentives to pay wages to their workers as there is no turnover right now, said Barvida which feels proud to be a significant taxpayer by paying Tk2,000-3,000 crore annually.
They also sought an opportunity to defer the payments of utility bills of up to June this year.
Apart from own demands, the association recommended sufficient financial and policy incentives for the country's marginal, small and medium entrepreneurs amid the crisis.
The association of around 800 automobile businesses admired the government for its actions already taken to fight the novel coronavirus crisis in Bangladesh.
