JS body suggests reduced duties on telecom accessories
A parliamentary body yesterday recommended cuts in all taxes and duties on public switched telephone network (PSTN) and mobile handsets, fibre optic and other ICT and telecom accessories.
The parliamentary standing committee on the post and telecommunications ministry asked the government to ensure zero tax on mobile SIM cards, software for transmission and receiving apparatus, base stations, telephonic and telegraphic switching apparatus and to impose Tk 100 duty on mobile handsets.
"The existing tax and duty rates on ICT and telecom are not business-friendly," Hasanul Haq Inu, chief of the committee, told reporters after a four-hour meeting at Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban.
The committee members will meet the finance minister and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chief soon on these issues.
The committee asked the finance ministry and NBR to cut duties from 7 percent to 3 percent on transmission and receiving apparatus, base stations, telephonic and telegraphic switching apparatus, SDH and PDH links with antenna.
On antenna and feeder cables, the committee asked the authorities to impose 3 percent duty, down from 25 percent.
For battery, power distribution box, DDF optical cabinet, dual band combiner, parts and accessories, scratch card, the committee recommended 3 percent duty, down from 25 percent now.
"We will not be able to build a Digital Bangladesh in line with the government's dream unless we cut tax on ICT and telecom accessories," said Inu, also president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.
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