The Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association (BROA) has urged the government to intervene as soaring commodity prices, escalating utility bills, and labor costs threaten the survival of the national restaurant and hospitality sector.
Addressing a press conference titled "Restaurant Sector in Extreme Crisis Due to Soaring Commodity Prices: Demand for Crisis Resolution" at the Fars Hotel & Resorts in Purana Paltan, Dhaka on Saturday (October 3, 2026), BROA Secretary General Imran Hasan outlined the severity of the economic slump. Flanked by BROA President Shah Sultan Khokhan and executive members, Imran Hasan reported that overall sales across restaurants nationwide have plummeted by up to 30 percent. Unprecedented inflation in basic ingredients—including rice, edible oil, meat, fish, and vegetables—combined with rising LPG gas, electricity, and rent expenditures, has driven operational overheads to unsustainable levels while consumer spending power contracts.
To safeguard employment and secure the sustainability of the sector, BROA placed a 9-point demand charter before the government:
Rapid implementation of a centralized One-Stop Service for restaurant licensing and operational clearances.
Immediate cessation of District Administration interference regarding food price adjustments against rising ingredient costs.
End to harassment by VAT officials, alongside the complete withdrawal of the 10% supplementary duty and 2% tax deducted at source (TDS).
Swift resolution of LPG fuel shortages and reduction of unannounced electrical load shedding.
Immediate halt to harassment and arbitrary financial fines imposed during multi-agency mobile court drives.
Execution of the decision to grant formal industrial status to the restaurant sector, formulation of an industrial policy, and mandatory association membership.
Permission to import beef to stabilize domestic commercial meat procurement costs.
Elimination of political labeling, extortion, and harassment of business operators to foster a commercial environment.
Provision of state training programs and financial incentives for restaurant workers to elevate the sector to international standards.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
