Small traders seek benefits from govt stimulus package 

Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association on Sunday urged the government to keep the VAT-free annual turnover limit within Tk50 lakh for the welfare of shop owners amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It also called upon the government to withdraw the decision of making trade licences for small and micro-level traders compulsory for securing stimulus funds.

Helal Uddin, president of the association, came up with the call while addressing a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

He said the National Board of Revenue has been carrying out drives across the country to bring small traders under the VAT system.

Now the small and micro-level traders are under pressure of compulsory registration for VAT and they are being asked to submit their returns every month, he said.

“We, the small traders will have to count Tk10,000 as fine if we fail to submit the returns on time. We cannot comply with the rules in any circumstance in the present context,” he added.

Small and micro-level traders do business by investing Tk10,000 to Tk50,000, but getting a trade licence requires Tk5,000 to Tk8,000, he mentioned.

So now the traders cannot comply with the conditions in order to get the facilities from the government, Helal said.

At the press conference, he also announced that they would not allow any buyers or sellers in their business establishments without masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The announcement will remain effective until February 29 next year, he said.

Helal Uddin said the entire world is going to face the second wave of coronavirus infection.

“Winter is coming in Bangladesh and infections may go up. So, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all to wear masks. And the government has introduced a no-mask no-service policy,” he said.

Responding to the call of the prime minister, the association called upon all shop owners across the country to cover their faces with masks for creating awareness and to make the efforts successful