The vast majority of the country's 19 crore SIM users belong to the low-income segment of society, who are already grappling with the rising cost of living. Just as everyone is deeply concerned about the escalating prices of essential commodities, there is also growing anxiety over the increasing costs of mobile phone services, which have become a necessity in modern life.
Currently, most SIMs have a call rate of Tk 3 per minute, a sharp increase from the previous rate of Tk 1. Additionally, the cost of minute packs has been raised, further exacerbating the financial strain on consumers.
To put this into perspective, customers are now required to pay a tax of Tk 39 for every Tk 100 spent on mobile phone services. This substantial tax burden is disproportionately heavy for those who can least afford it, particularly the lower-income groups who rely on affordable communication for both personal and professional purposes.
In light of this, I am urging the interim government to take immediate action to alleviate this financial pressure. It is imperative to reduce the prices of internet packs, call rates, and minute packs, which can be achieved by lowering the current 30 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) to 10 per cent. This tax, unfairly imposed by the previous Awami League government, has placed an undue burden on the people, and a reduction would provide much-needed relief to millions of people across the country.
Asif Islam
Student
Jahangirnagar University
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