The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman

¶ 01 Alright, Hon. Minister. I am stating the information I obtained. If a tax of Rs. 65 is imposed at the port, that means you have imposed 40 percent tax. You have set the controlled price at Rs. 220. But even the rice mill owners in this country do not sell rice at Rs. 220. Even if you tell them to sell at Rs. 220, they do not. Then on imported rice also you have set the MRP at Rs. 220. At the port, you levy a tax of Rs. 65 per kilo. I ask: where is the fairness in this? The other day, when some fuel was unloaded at the port, you spoke of the taxes to be charged; you said you were charging this much. Those of you who said that are now imposing a tax of Rs. 65 per kilo on imported rice. Where is the fairness? Hon. Minister, you are interrupting my speech. Please answer after I finish.

¶ 02 I say you do not need to wait till April to provide relief. You can reduce this tax and provide relief to the people. Why are you not reducing this tax? If I am wrong, please correct me. As I know, and according to the facts I found, in this country no government has imposed more than Rs. 10 tax when importing rice. The maximum imposed was Rs. 10. The government that came claiming to protect the people and provide relief to the poor is levying Rs. 65 per kilo on rice.