KATHMANDU: Books worth Rs 2 crore are gathering dust at customs offices in Bhairahawa and Birgunj for the past one month, thanks to the government’s decision to impose a 6.5 percent customs duty on all imported books.
The National Booksellers and Publishers Association of Nepal (NBPAN) has taken a strong stance not to release the consignment of books till the government withdraws the hike in the duty.
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Eighty per cent of reference books for the national curriculum from grade one to the university level are imported from India and abroad. Eight trucks carrying the books ordered by book stores before the Budget on July 16 are stranded in the customs offices.
“We have requested transport companies to hold the release of consignments from the customs until further notice as the new duty rates will add an extra financial burden to the students, teachers, guardians, bibliophiles and book traders,” said Madhav Lal Maharjan, managing director of Mandala Book Point. Only two books have been brought from abroad within the past one month —New Headway English published by the Oxford University Press and Chinar published by the Cambridge University Press meant for the certificate level.
