Bangladesh Elevator Escalators and Lift Importers Association (BEELIA) has called upon the government to reclassify elevators and escalators as capital machinery and rationalise the existing duty structure to ensure the sustainable growth of the country’s housing, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) today, BEELIA President Md Shafiul Alam Uzzwal said elevators are no longer luxury items in the context of modern urbanisation, high-rise construction, and inclusive infrastructure development.
He argued that they are essential capital equipment supporting economic growth and public accessibility.
According to the association, elevators were removed from the capital machinery category in 2023 and reclassified as commercial products. This shift led to consecutive duty increases in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, resulting in the total duty burden on imports rising from approximately 11% in FY2023 to nearly 46% in FY2025. This significant hike has escalated construction costs, forced elevator companies to scale down operations, and led to substantial job losses.
During the event, BEELIA presented several key recommendations to the government. These include reclassifying elevators and escalators as capital machinery and reducing the load factor value from USD 3.00 per kilogram to USD 1.50 per kilogram. The association also called for effective monitoring to prevent the misuse of imported raw materials under the guise of local manufacturing.
In addition, BEELIA urged simplification and faster processing of port-level scaling, valuation, and customs clearance procedures. It recommended reforming the duty and tax structure to facilitate the import of internationally certified, safe elevators, while also rationalising duties to discourage the use of low-quality and reconditioned elevators that pose serious public safety risks.
REHAB President Ali Afzal also spoke at the event, noting that high customs duties, VAT, and other taxes are directly impacting consumers and the housing sector. He emphasised that excessive duties on internationally recognised brands, imposed under the justification of protecting local industries, have significantly increased installation costs. These costs are ultimately passed on to apartment buyers, making home ownership increasingly difficult for middle-income families.
REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaque highlighted the necessity of government support for the elevator sector to foster planned urbanisation and smart city development. Other speakers included BEELIA General Secretary Md Eadul Haque, BEELIA Advisor Emdad Ur Rahman, BEELIA Vice President Mr. Asim Sarkar, BEELIA Director Mr. Mohammad Zakirul Haque, and BEELIA Chattogram Representative Md Yusuf Nobi.
The leaders reiterated that unjustified duties contribute to higher housing prices for ordinary citizens and encourage the use of risky, low-quality equipment. They expressed hope that the government would consider their legitimate demands to support an industry vital to the nation’s development.
