Book publishers, sellers give 10-day ultimatum to govt

Otherwise, the bookshop owners will keep the shutters down in Dhaka city on August 22, said the association leaders at a press conference.

They also warned that the association would enforce a countrywide strike for indefinite period if the issue is not settled.

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Although book publishers, importers and sellers have been kept out of the VAT net, the Customs, Excise and VAT office at Sutrapur issued registration notices to most members of the association on May 29, the leaders said terming it a violation of law.

"The VAT office has repeatedly issued notices asking for declaration and threatened to collect VAT from us under the law," said association Chairman Md Abu Taher.

But the notice did not mention any specific law under which the VAT would be collected, he added.

"We even contacted the VAT office and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for clarification but they could not give any satisfactory reply," said Taher.

Md Faisal, an importer, alleged that the customs officials have seized many imported books for non-payment of VAT.

"They are now harassing the book importers by imposing VAT on the books imported during 2000-2003," he added.

He also alleged that the customs offices in the ports never issued any notice, but they were asking for VAT verbally.

The association leaders said imposing VAT on book publication, sales and import would seriously hamper the education of the students.

No countries impose tax or VAT on books in line with the Unesco Charter, said Md Osman Goni, director of the association.

Even the traders in the Saarc countries do not pay any tax or VAT for publishing, selling or importing books, he added.