Further tax cut on ICT machinery likely

The New Age

The government plans to slash the tax on ICT machinery import to take telecommunications services to people’s doorstep as part of measures for implementing its Vision 2021 through building up the dreamland called ‘Digital Bangladesh’.
Bangladesh Telecomm-unications Regulatory Commission chairmen Zia Ahmed Wednesday unveiled the government plan for tax cuts on information communication technology.
But the BTRC head said they have no plans to fix up call rate for mobile- phone operators rather he prefers a sound a competition within the prefixed highest and lowest call rates.
He said the commission would work sincerely to implement government’s Vision 2021 and translating the dream of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ into reality.
The BTRC chairman was addressing a press conference in its conference room to unveil the plan for World Telecommunications Day-09 observance.
He said they would review the ILDTS Policy (International Long Distance Telecommuni-cations Services), and a committee had already been formed in this regard.
‘We’ll take opinion from experts, even common people, through internet to make the policy acceptable to all,’ he told reporters.
Describing the progress of revenue earning he said they have so far earned Tk 2,200 crore in revenues against the target of Tk 2,500 crore in the current fiscal. The revenue earning was only Tk 1,600 crore in the previous fiscal.
On controlling illegal VoIP (voice over internet protocol) business bonanza, he said they would apply multifaceted strategies in controlling the VoIP underworld.
Replying to a question the BTRC chairman said they would intensify the ongoing drive against the clandestine VoIP business soon.
Asked about having own satellite in Bangladesh, he said the issue is still in research level. ‘We’re in touch with the International Telecommu-nications Union over the issue.’