We demand zero duty on newsprint

This is an issue that cannot be separated from the question of the print media performing its due role of ensuring the public's "Right to Know"and living up to popular expectations.

The import duty on newsprint in Bangladesh is much higher than what it is in the neighbouring countries.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The duty was imposed in the past to protect a public sector newsprint mill. But it has long gone out of production and the sole manufacturer of newsprint in the country now is a privately owned mill. The government announced a waiver on import duty, but with a caveat. It was made contingent upon purchase of a certain proportion of newsprint from the local producer. Since the local industry enjoys a monopoly they have raised the prices of newsprint arbitrarily thus rendering the whole idea of giving a waiver on newsprint import pointless. It is also unable to supply the total market need.

Now the message that we want to get across is very clear. We urge the government to withdraw the import duty on newsprint for the simple reason that it makes a mockery of protection to the local firm which is actually hijacking the benefits of the waiver by forcing the newspaper owners to buy the exorbitantly priced locally made newsprint.

The answer lies in breaking the monopoly of one private sector newsprint industry by having more mills in the sector to allow for a competition-induced improvement in the quality and reduction in the price of newsprint in the country. As things stand now, the government is virtually dictated to by the sole newsprint producer on a matter so crucially important to the print media. The playing ground should be a normal one for the print media with none enjoying any monopoly role as a spoiler.