Mobile phone use is likely to be costlier as the government has proposed doubling the imposition of a supplementary duty (SD) on mobile phone services—voice and data—in the upcoming budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
The supplementary duty has been proposed at 10% from an existing 5% on the services provided through mobile phone SIM/RIM card, according to the minister’s budget speech.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is placing the next proposed budget at the parliament on Thursday.
The total national budget amounting to Tk5,23,190 crore for the forthcoming financial year is the highest ever in the country and the first of the Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
The government first imposed a 3% SD on voice, internet, SMS and other mobile phone services in FY2016, which was increased to 5% in FY2017.