Why addl charges on mobile call, internet right now: BTRC

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued a letter to mobile operators on e-mails asking why additional charges have been imposed on call rates and internet before the proposed budget is passed.

Mohammad Farhan Alam, senior assistant director of BTRC, sent the letter on Saturday.

According to BTRC source, it was mentioned in the proposed budget that additional charges on mobile phone services would be effective from July 1.

In the letter, BRTC has warned that mobile operators have already started imposing the supplementary duty that has been proposed to increase in the budget. The matter has come to the notice of BTRC. Unprecedented strict action would be taken, if it is proved.

Earlier, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmantun Munim said in a post-budget briefing that currently the call rate is much lower. So tendency of talking unnecessarily has increased. However, the additional 5% duty has not been imposed to reduce the tendency. Rather, the call rate is lower. So, the supplementary duty has been increased by only 5%, taking it to 15%, which people can afford. There is a problem that we oppose regardless without consideration what percentage has been increased. In this case, only 5 percent duty has been increased and it will not harm people.


Dhaka/Rahman/AKA