JS should consider supplementary tax on off-road vehicles

CHITTAGONG: Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has re-arranged the tax structure of some vehicles while announcing the proposed budget.

Although, it is true that our roads are now crowded with unplanned number of vehicles, some rich persons are possessing even dozens of luxury cars/ SUV/ SRV (sports and utility vehicles/sports and recreational vehicles) for their family use which is not desirable.  

On the other hand, we need more public transport and a planned number of cars/jeeps as we see in the cities like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
 
For the industrialization of rural areas by privet sector, we need some low cost off-road vehicles like ordinary jeeps having cc capacity 1800cc to 2500cc.

These off road vehicles/ jeeps (not sedan car) are useful for tea gardens, rubber plantation, rural industries, hill districts, muddy roads etc.

These low cost jeeps play a vital role in communication with remote areas of the country in all seasons.
 
Before budget declaration the supplementary tax on vehicles excluding microbus were as follows:
 
1500cc to 2000 cc = 100%
2000cc to 2750cc = 250%
 
In the proposed budget the supplementary tax on vehicles excluding microbus are as follows:
1500cc to 1800cc= 100%
1800cc to 2000cc = 150%
2000cc to 2750cc = 250%
 
Actually the luxury SUV / SRV/ jeeps usually are made of more than 2500cc. And ordinary official / general purpose jeeps/vehicles are made up to 2500cc.  

Higher tax on luxury vehicles is appreciated. Cars of having more than 1500 cc are also treated as luxury cars.

So only jeeps/vehicles (not sedan car) up to 2500cc may be treated as ordinary jeep/vehicle and the tax structure should be a bit considerable.
 
The proposed supplementary tax on 2wd and 4wd jeeps /vehicles excluding sedan cars and microbus should be as follows:
 
Built in jeeps/vehicles excluding sedan cars and microbus having cc capacity
1500cc to 2000cc = 100%
2000cc   to 2500cc =150%
2500cc to 2750cc = 250%

I hope the honorable mps, finance minister, and pm will think over the matter before passing the budget in the parliament and will bring the needful change in the tax structure of these essential off-road vehicles/jeeps.

BDST: 1257 HRS, JUN 15, 2012
Edited by: Maria Salam, Asst Output Editor