Mobile phone prices should fall as import taxes slashed: Faiz Taiyeb
He calls for stronger roles of the NBR and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to ensure consumer benefits
Mobile phone prices are expected to fall in the coming months following a reduction in import duties, but authorities must act effectively for consumers to see the benefits, said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion in Dhaka today (14 January), Taiyeb urged the National Board of Revenue, the commerce ministry, and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to play a proactive role in ensuring that lower duties translate into lower retail prices.
"Only if these agencies are made effective concurrently will the benefits of the tariff reduction reach consumers," he said, responding to questions about why mobile phone prices have yet to fall despite the import tax cuts.
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Taiyeb explained that immediate price drops are unrealistic. "It is wrong to expect prices to drop the day after a gazette notification is issued. There is a lead time for opening letters of credit, importing raw materials, completing production, and bringing products to market. After this period, I expect mobile prices to decrease," he said.
When asked about the sustainability of recent reform initiatives in the ICT and telecom sectors, Taiyeb expressed hope that the next government would continue the initiatives.
He noted, however, that the incoming administration could reverse the changes if it chooses. "But then we will be able to question which sentence, which word, and why it was written that way. We do not refrain from work out of fear that reforms may not last," he said.
He added, "What we have done, we have done clearly. Even after we leave, we will make every possible effort to defend it."
Taiyeb also clarified the recent deactivation of 8.8 million SIM cards, noting that 60–80% were unused. Addressing misinformation, he confirmed that the government has not imposed a limit of five SIM cards per national ID, adding that a maximum of 10 SIM cards is allowed per ID.
Regarding the challenges faced by the next government, he said, "I don't think I am leaving any challenges for them. Rather, I am resolving their challenges."
He said, "We have taken all the criticism, all the pressure, everything onto our own shoulders so that future governments can move the country's digital economy forward."
