Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association (BRGOA) placed 11-point demands to the government, which include declaring rubber as an agricultural product.

BRGOA adviser and also Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI) director Syed Moazzem Hossain presented the demands at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhala on Sunday.

“Different countries of the world have declared rubber as an agricultural product. But, Bangladesh has not done it yet. Rubber is used to make around 1.20 lakh products around the globe. This is a very potential sector for us too,” Hossain said.

BRGOA adviser urged the government to withdraw VAT and taxes on rubber products, import hybrid rubber seeds from abroad, and provide bank loans for rubber cultivators at low-interest-rate, as well as renew the agreement of the plots which were allotted in 1980.

Rubbers are cultivated on around 1 lakh acres of land in the country including hill districts, and the Sylhet area. Some 1,300 rubber cultivators made nearly 1 lakh jobs in the country. Among others, PHP, and Gazi Group also invested in the sector.

BRGOA president Muhammad Harun and the association’s members were also present at the event.