Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association Criticize Proposed Budget
The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association has expressed deep concern over the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, alleging that it largely overlooks the interests and expectations of millions of telecom service users across the country.
In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, the association’s President, Mohiuddin Ahmed, said the budget contains certain positive measures aimed at supporting telecom operators and large investors, but fails to provide any meaningful relief for ordinary consumers.
“Millions of mobile and internet users expected the first budget of the new government to make telecommunications services more affordable, accessible and consumer-friendly,” he said. “Unfortunately, the budget has ignored several long-standing and reasonable demands from consumers.”
According to Mohiuddin Ahmed, key issues left unaddressed include the removal of the minimum call-rate floor price, the withdrawal of the surcharge imposed on mobile services in the name of the Padma Bridge, and a reduction in the nearly 39 percent combined tax and VAT burden currently applied to telecommunications services.
Highlighting the financial pressure faced by consumers, he argued that telecommunications and internet access are no longer luxury services but have become essential utilities in modern life.
“In the current global and domestic economic environment, mobile and internet connectivity are basic necessities,” he said. “However, excessive taxation and artificial pricing controls continue to place an unnecessary financial burden on consumers, particularly those from lower-income and marginalized communities.”
He further warned that maintaining high costs for connectivity could undermine the country’s broader ambitions of building a knowledge-based economy and advancing digital transformation.
Calling on the government to address digital inequality, Mohiuddin Ahmed urged policymakers to reduce taxes and VAT on telecommunications services to what he described as a reasonable level. He also called for the withdrawal of temporary and unnecessary surcharges and the abolition of the floor-price policy to ensure a more open and competitive market environment.
“Without these reforms, the digital divide may widen further, depriving many citizens of the benefits of information technology and digital services,” he said.
The association concluded its statement by urging the government and relevant regulatory authorities to adopt a more balanced and consumer-oriented policy framework that protects the interests of millions of telecom users while supporting the sustainable development of the sector.
//DBTech/MA/EK/OR//
