Leaders of market and business associations in Chattogram have urged the government to extend market operating hours from 7pm to 9pm, warning that the current schedule is causing significant financial losses for traders.
The request was made during a courtesy meeting with the newly elected Board of Directors of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at the World Trade Center Conference Hall on Wednesday 3 June.
The meeting was chaired by Chamber Senior Vice President Md Amjad Hossain Chowdhury and attended by Chamber Vice President Mohammad Mosiul Alam Swapan, directors Asad Iftekhar, Afsar Hasan Chowdhury (Jasim), Md Zahidul Hasan, ASM Ismail Khan and Md Selim Nur, along with representatives from various business organisations.
Business leaders said traders are struggling with rising operational costs and what they described as harassment by government agencies, despite regularly paying taxes and VAT. They argued that mandatory market closure at 7pm intensifies pressure on businesses, making it difficult to cover expenses such as rent, electricity, service charges, bank loan instalments, and employee salaries and bonuses.
Customer traffic, they said, typically peaks after 7pm, making the period until 9pm crucial for revenue.
The associations requested the Chamber to recommend extending market hours to 12pm to 9pm, replacing the current 10am to 7pm schedule, and reintroducing a package-based VAT system instead of the existing collection mechanism.
Senior Vice President Md Amjad Hossain Chowdhury assured participants that the Chamber would act as a bridge between the business community and the government, discussing all issues with relevant authorities and seeking solutions.
Vice President Mohammad Mosiul Alam Swapan emphasised that taxes and VAT paid by businesses fund national development projects and urged the government to be more responsive to the concerns of the business community.
