ICT Growth Goals: Govt Targets 15% GDP Share with Tax Reforms, Fiber Backbone
The contribution of the ICT and telecom sector to GDP currently stands at 2 to 4 percent, and the government has set a target to increase it to 10 to 15 percent in the future. To achieve this, Adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Rehan Asif Asad, said that effective measures will soon be taken to ensure affordable and reliable internet for young entrepreneurs, introduce supportive policies, and reduce the high tax burden on customers in the telecom and ICT sectors.
He noted that the current tax rate in the ICT and telecom sector is as high as 38 percent, which is among the highest in the world. As a result, when a customer recharges 100 taka, they effectively receive only 62 taka worth of services, while the remaining 38 taka is deducted as tax. Efforts are underway to bring balance to this tax structure to benefit customers.
Highlighting plans to establish an integrated “National Fiber Backbone,” Adviser Rehan Asif Asad said the initiative aims to ensure equal access for all operators and improve service quality across the sector.
Outlining the government’s three key pillars for ICT development over the next five years, the adviser said these include connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), and “One Citizen, One Digital ID.” Under this plan, an integrated digital platform will be developed for every citizen, enabling access to identification, financial transactions, and government services in one place.
He made these remarks on 13 April, Monday, at the opening ceremony of the three-day “Broadband Expo 2026” held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital.
The event was chaired by ISPAB President Aminul Hakim and attended by Information Minister Jahir Uddin Swapan as the chief guest. Special guests included Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Abdoon Naser Khan, BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd.) Emdad Ul Bari, and ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan.
DBTech/MAR/MUIIM/OR
