Outage curtails FBCCI's event where it demanded uncut power

The budget reaction press briefing of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) got interrupted twice today by load shedding.

The generator of the FBCCI building was also not working when power cut happened for the second time.

As a result, the apex trade body had to end the meeting fast without taking several questions from journalists.

Interestingly, the FBCCI in its budget proposals placed earlier had recommended providing industrial sector with uninterrupted electricity.

The government proposed allocation of Tk 34,819 crore for the energy sector in the national budget for 2023-24 fiscal year.

In today's event of around 80 minutes, which was cut short for load shedding, the Federation demanded more allocation for the energy sector to ensure uncut power for the enterprises.

If the industry do not get enough electricity and fuel at fair price, then their production will be hampered, which will affect the economy, said Md Jashim Uddin, president of the FBCCI.

The industry will have to create jobs for the youths who are joining the job market every year, he said. "But how will they do it if energy crisis hampers manufacturing."

Apart from the energy sector, the government should give more focus on skills development, he said.

The FBCCI also demanded cancellation of all types of advance income tax (AIT) and advance tax (AT) on imports as the process of getting refunds of the AIT, AT is very complex and it increases the cost of doing business.