In a significant move, traders at Sylhet’s Tamabil Land Port ceased importing stones from India starting yesterday. This decision came as a direct response to the recent increase in customs duty on stone imports.During a meeting at the port, traders collectively decided to suspend imports. This action follows a notification from the Tamabil land port authority, under the Bangladesh Customs Department, mandating a rise in customs duty from $12 to $13 per tonne of stone, effective January 8. This increment represents an additional cost of Tk 50 per tonne for the traders.
“The imposition of higher customs duty compels us to halt imports. It’s simply not viable anymore,” said Liakat Ali, president of the Tamabil Limestone and Coal Importer Group. “This increase leads to substantial losses, and we demand a retraction of this duty hike.”