The costs of phone calls and internet usage are set to rise again as the National Board of Revenue (NBR) prepares to announce a 3% hike in supplementary duty.
With ths increase, customers will now pay an additional Tk56 in tax for every Tk100 mobile recharge.
In the 2024-25 budget, the supplementary duty on mobile phone services was elevated from 15% to 20%, incorporating an 18% VAT and a 1% surcharge.
Consequently, for every Tk100 recharge, the government collects Tk54.5 in taxes, which includes SIM tax, revenue sharing, and other fees.
Within six months, this tariff adjustment marks another rise in the cost of mobile phone calls and data usage for the country’s 18.87 million SIM card holders.
The increase comes amid a decline in mobile internet usage, with the latest Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) data revealing a drop of about 4 million users in November compared to October of the previous year.
Telecom operators have expressed concern that the tariff increase could curtail mobile conversations, leading to a further revenue decline.
Many have criticised the timing of the decision, noting it was made well in advance of the budget.
The supplementary duty on mobile phone calls was initially introduced in the 2015-16 budget, setting the precedent for subsequent hikes.
