Mobile operators contest Bangladeshi tax on Internet use

In Bangladesh, mobile operators have called on the government to remove value-added tax (VAT) and other taxation mechanisms on the use of the Internet from the upcoming national budget. Internet users currently pay 15% VAT, 5% supplementary duty, and 1% surcharge to use the Internet. Furthermore, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) is demanding a withdrawal of SIM tax to promote telecom penetration in the country. According to AMTOB’s secretary general, the removal of VAT from Internet use is crucial for the creation of a knowledge-based society.