Grameenphone welcomes SIM tax withdrawal, calls for broader telecom tax reforms
Tanveer Mohammed, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone said lower mobile connectivity costs will boost digital inclusion by bringing more people into the digital ecosystem and expanding access to essential services.
The proposed withdrawal of tax on SIM cards in the FY2026-27 national budget has been welcomed as a positive and timely step toward accelerating digital inclusion in Bangladesh.
Tanveer Mohammed, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, said, "We also appreciate the government's initiative to introduce a five-year tax rate framework. Greater predictability and policy certainty are important for long-term investment planning and will strengthen investor confidence across sectors, including telecommunications."
Lower mobile connectivity costs will boost digital inclusion by bringing more people into the digital ecosystem and expanding access to essential services, he said.
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Tanveer added that retaining existing sector-specific tax rates offers limited relief to industries that continue to face a high tax burden.
"The telecom sector remains one of the most heavily taxed industries in the country despite being a key enabler of digital transformation, financial inclusion, and economic growth."
He said a gradual roadmap for reducing telecom sector taxes would have improved the investment climate and encouraged greater investment in network expansion and digital infrastructure.
"As Bangladesh advances toward its digital and economic development goals, it is essential to ensure that the telecommunications sector remains financially sustainable and globally competitive. A comprehensive review of the existing tax structure for the telecom industry and further reforms to support investment, innovation, and long-term growth in one of the country's most strategic sectors have also been urged," he noted.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the Tk9.38 lakh crore national budget in parliament yesterday (11 June).
Khosru proposed withdrawing the existing Tk300 tax on SIM card sales and replacing it with a 15% VAT on the sale price in the FY2026-27 budget.
As the move is expected to reduce the cost burden on mobile users, it is projected to result in a revenue loss of around Tk1,200 crore for the government.
