Govt working to cut internet price: Tarana

Bangladesh government is working to reduce internet price at the consumer-level, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim said today.

In order to reduce the internet price, a reduction in the government revenue sources including VAT and tax, in the sector will be proposed, she told journalists.

A letter will be sent to the finance minister in this regard within a day or two, Tarana said.

Currently, mobile network operators and internet gateway providers pay 15 percent VAT and 5 percent supplementary duty, she said.

Moreover, they also pay 1 percent surcharge, 5.5 percent, to the telecom authority (BTRC) as revenue sharing and 1 percent to social obligation fund, Tarana said.

The telecom and gateway operators were given a two days time to submit a report showing the impact on consumer-level prices based on their total expenditure, she added.

Tarana was addressing the journalists after a meeting with telecom operators and internet gateway providers at her secretariat office in Dhaka.

Source: thedailystar