Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS) has urged the customers to pay 5% value-added tax (VAT) on purchasing gold.

“The government has fixed VAT at 5% rate. We should pay the tax to contribute to the economy,” BAJUS former president Dilip Kumar Roy told a view-exchange meeting in Mymensingh as the chief guest on Thursday.  

The central leader of the trade body also laid emphasis on popularising 6% wages for processing the yellow metal.

“Gold ornaments are sold with wages ranging from 6%-35% in countries including India, Sri Lanka, China, and Italy. In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is 6%," said Dr Dilip.

Dr Dilip further said that jewellers should work unitedly to realise the dream of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to enable Smart Bangladesh and ‘Smart Jewellery’ vision of BAJUS President Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

Addressing the programme, BAJUS Vice-President Gulzar Ahmed applauded the role of BAJUS President Sayem Sobhan Anvir in bringing all jewellers under one umbrella.

“BAJUS is now a brand of doing business. All members are united now due to dynamic leadership,” he said.

BAJUS Adviser Ruhul Amin Rasel, Executive Members Pabitra Chandra Ghosh and Samsul Haque Bhuiyan were present as special guests while district unit President MA Kabir chaired the session. 

Central leaders of BAJUS also took part in a view-exchange meeting at Samudra Convention Hall in Netrokona on the same day.

Netrokona district unit President Chanchal Sarkar chaired the session.