BELIA Seeks Capital Machinery Status for Lifts
BELIA has urged the government to restore capital machinery status for lifts and escalators and rationalize import duties, arguing that current tax rates are increasing housing costs and creating safety concerns.
The Bangladesh Elevator, Escalator and Lift Importers Association (BELIA) has called for lifts and escalators to be reinstated as capital machinery and for the existing duty structure to be rationalized. The association says such measures are necessary to support sustainable development in the housing, industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital, BELIA President Md. Shafiul Alam Ujjal said lifts are no longer luxury products in the context of urbanization, high-rise construction, industrialization and inclusive infrastructure development. He described them as essential capital equipment.
According to him, lifts were removed from the capital machinery category and reclassified as commercial products in 2023. Subsequent increases in duties during the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years raised the overall tax burden on lift imports from around 11 percent to 46 percent.
He said the higher duties have increased construction costs across several sectors, particularly the housing industry. He also claimed that a number of lift companies have been forced to scale down or close operations, affecting employment.
BELIA presented several proposals at the press conference, including restoring capital machinery status for lifts and escalators, reducing the load factor from US$3 per kilogram to US$1.50, strengthening oversight to prevent misuse of imported raw materials under the guise of local manufacturing, simplifying port-level assessment and clearance procedures, and reforming duty and tax structures to facilitate the import of internationally compliant lifts.
Association leaders argued that excessive duties are encouraging the use of lower-cost, lower-quality and reconditioned lifts, creating potential safety risks. They said rationalized duties would help ensure access to safe and durable lift systems at affordable prices.
Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) President Dr. Ali Afzal said high duties, VAT and other taxes on lift imports are having a direct impact on consumers and the housing sector. Increased installation costs are contributing to higher apartment prices, making home ownership more difficult for middle-income buyers.
REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaq emphasized the importance of government support for the lift sector to facilitate planned urbanization, smart city development and safe infrastructure.
Other speakers included BELIA General Secretary Md. Yadul Haque, Adviser Emdad Ur Rahman, Vice President Asim Sarkar, Director Mohammad Zakirul Haque and Chattogram Representative Md. Yusuf Nabi.
Speakers said excessive duties on lifts are increasing construction costs and placing an additional burden on consumers. They expressed hope that the government would consider the sector’s proposals and take appropriate policy measures.
//DBTech/RP/EK//
