The Mobile Phone Subscribers Association could not be happy with the proposed budget for 2021-22. The budget response signed by the president of the organization Mahiuddin Ahmed sent to the media on Friday has raised fears that consumers will be deprived.
Mohiuddin Ahmed said the imposition of new taxes on mobile handset imports would create new obstacles in building a digital Bangladesh. Although 4G was launched in 2016, at present the number of 4G users is only 26 percent. One of the reasons for this is the high cost of handset devices.
He added that the 56 percent tax levied on imports had already increased the price of the handset. In order to encourage domestic production, 5 percent tax has been imposed on the handsets produced in the country. The reality is that the people and consumers of the country have not got the benefit of this discount. The price of imported handsets in the market is almost equal to the price of handsets produced in the country. As a result, domestic producers will get the opportunity of monopoly. In addition to depriving consumers, Bangladesh will create new obstacles in building a digital Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohiuddin Ahmed said that the demand of the organization for withdrawal of supplementary duty has not been met, adding that the government has maintained the previous supplementary duty in this year’s budget without considering the Corona pandemic. This will increase the cost and suffering of marginal low-income customers.