Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday proposed reduction of supplementary duty on SIM (subscriber identity module) cards from 30 percent to 20 percent in the national budget for the upcoming fiscal year, reports UNB.
“Considering its (SIM) importance to the expansion of telephone sector, this high rate of 30 percent SD is being proposed to be reduced to 20 percent,” he said while delivering his budget speech in the House.
The government had imposed a 30 percent SD on the import of SIM cards keeping in mind the interest of local SIM cards producers. “This rate is in force for a good number of years.”
Mentioning that several steps were taken during past years towards building digital Bangladesh, a political commitment of the present government, the finance minister also proposed to reduce the customs duty on digital cameras and web cameras to 10 percent from 25 percent.
“Server Rack generally imported with server for its maintenance is subject to 61.09% duty and tax incidence including 25% CD. This high duty tax incidence and rates are against the government policies, pursued for the expansion of ICT. On these considerations the 25 percent CD on Server Rack is proposed to be reduced to 10%,” Muhith said.
