The Bangladesh Elevator, Escalator and Lift Importers Association (BEELIA) on Wednesday called upon the government to reclassify elevators and escalators as Capital Machinery and rationalize the existing duty structure to ensure sustainable growth of the country’s housing, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
Speaking at a press conference held in the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), BEELIA President Md. Shafiul Alam Uzzwal stated that elevators are no longer luxury items in the context of modern urbanization, high-rise construction, industrialization, and inclusive infrastructure development. Rather, they are essential capital equipment that support economic growth and public accessibility.
He noted that elevators were removed from the Capital Machinery category in 2023 and subsequently classified as commercial products. Since then, import duties have increased consecutively in the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. As a result, the total duty burden on elevator imports has risen from approximately 11% in FY2023 to nearly 46% in FY2025. This significant increase has raised construction costs across various sectors, particularly the housing industry, forcing many elevator companies to scale down operations and resulting in substantial job losses.
The recommendations were also presented during a press conference organized by the association, where industry leaders highlighted a number of challenges facing elevator importers, manufacturers, and consumers.
Among its key proposals, BEELIA urged the government to reclassify elevators and escalators as capital machinery, arguing that such a move would facilitate investment and help modernize the country's infrastructure.
The association also called for reducing the load factor value used in customs assessment from USD 3.00 per kilogram to USD 1.50 per kilogram, saying the current rate significantly increases import costs.
To protect legitimate businesses and ensure fair competition, BEELIA recommended stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent the misuse of imported raw materials under the guise of local manufacturing.
The association further sought simplification and faster processing of port-level scaling, valuation, and customs clearance procedures, which it said would reduce delays and lower business costs.
Highlighting public safety concerns, BEELIA stressed the need for reforms to the existing duty and tax structure to facilitate the import of internationally certified and safety-compliant elevators.
The organization also called for a rationalization of duties and taxes to discourage the growing use of low-quality and reconditioned elevators, warning that such equipment poses significant risks to public safety.
REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaq highlighted the importance of government support for the elevator sector in the interest of planned urbanization, smart city development, and safe infrastructure growth.
Other speakers at the press conference included BEELIA general secretary Eadul Haque, BEELIA Advisor Emdad Ur Rahman, vice president of BEELIA Asim Sarkar, director of BEELIA Mohammad Zakirul Haque, and BEELIA Chattogram Representative Yusuf Nobi.