Ahead of Ramadan, date duty cut from 25% to 5% and total tax on oranges and apples halved
The government has granted duty relief on imports of dates, oranges (malta) and apples ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The proposal was approved at a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Sunday, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
A press release from the Cabinet Division said that, under the cabinet's decision, the existing customs duty on date imports has been reduced from 25 percent to 5 percent, effective until March 10, 2027.
In addition, the release said, for the period from January 24 to February 23, 2027, the total tax incidence on imports of oranges under HS code 08051090 and apples under HS code 08081090 has been set at 61 percent instead of the existing 121.78 percent.
In other words, the total tax burden on oranges and apples is coming down by nearly half, and the relief will remain in force for a set one-month period — from January 24 to February 23, 2027. For dates, the reduced duty rate will remain in place until March 10, 2027.
The decision was taken at Sunday's cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. After the proposal was approved at the meeting, the Cabinet Division announced the details of the decision through a press release.
All three products covered by the relief — dates, oranges and apples — are fruits in extra demand during the month of Ramadan. The government has granted the relief by cutting the duty and total tax incidence at the import stage.
