The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce (FBCCI) today demanded exemption of source tax on the supply of essential commodities.

It said 2 per cent withholding tax is applicable on the supply of rice, wheat, potato, onion, garlic, chickpea, pulse, turmeric, chili, maize, flour, salt, edible oil, sugar and all sorts of fruits.

"We propose for keeping supply of essential commodities out of the source tax," said FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin at a consultative committee meeting.

The FBCCI and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) jointly organised the event at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka to discuss issues of businesses ahead of the formulation of the national budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.