Entrepreneurs and specialists involved in promoting solar energy in the country on Wednesday suggested the National Board of Revenue should waive duties imposed
on import of raw materials for solar system to
make it a viable source of electricity.
The stakeholders raised the issue of waving duties on import of solar panels and relevant components at a meeting at NBR
office presided over by its chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed.
At the meeting, they asked the NBR to waive duties on import of
battery, solar inverter above 2 kilowatt capacity, charge controller above
30 MPR, and T-5 and
T-8 energy saving lights to promote renewable solar system.
Prof Nurul Islam of the Institute of Appropriate Technology of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Saiful Haque, professor of renewable energy, and also the secretary of Bangladesh Solar Energy Society, Mostafa Al Mahmud, secretary general of Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association, Naser Khan, managing director Max Laser, Engr. Nurul Akter, CEO of Energypac, Engr Ansar Uddin managing director of Electro Solar Power, Alauddin Ahmed, deputy secretary of electricity department and Abdullah Khan, first secretary of customs policy, NBR, were present in the meeting.
Nurul Islam said the NBR should waive the duties imposed on solar panel appliances in such a way that the local manufacturing would not be affected.
He stressed the need for starting an effective monitoring for verification and certification of the manufacturers of solar power systems.
Saiful Haque suggested the government should monitor who were importing finished solar system in the name of
components and hindering the progress of local industry.
He urged the NBR to reduce import duty
on cost-effective LED
light bulbs that were not being produced in the country.
NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed assured the meeting that the NBR would soon identify the raw materials on which duties should be waived.
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