FROM PAGE 2

According to the association, the SIM tax discourages connectivity, especially among low-income users.

At several events, Rehan Asad, adviser to the prime minister on ICT and telecom, said that the country’s telecom sector remains one of the most heavily taxed industries.

He said the government is working to reduce the burden, which ultimately affects customers and service quality.

The adviser to the prime minister also mentioned that telecom taxation would be rationalised gradually to support greater investment, wider connectivity and digital transformation.

Earlier, the GSMA, a global association of mobile operators, urged the revenue board to abolish SIM-related taxes in the upcoming budget.

The organisation said its recommendations align with the Bangladesh government’s Vision 2030, which identifies ICT as a priority sector and aims to establish it as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner.

GSMA also noted that taxing SIM replacements is unfair because customers must pay again when replacing lost or damaged SIMs or when upgrading technology. It further opposed applying the same tax to Internet of Things (IoT) connections.