FE Report
The existing 5.0 per cent customs duty on lentils, crude de-gummed soyabean and crude palm olein is likely to be waived in the national budget for the fiscal 2007-08.
Adviser for Finance and Commerce Mirza Azizul Islam is scheduled to announce the budget over radio and television live today (Thursday).
However, there is every possibility that the customs duty on raw sugar and salt (other than boulder and table salt) will be enhanced. The rates of duty on mobile phone sets, computer software, parts of computer, television and radio cassette players, completely- built units (CBU) of CNG bus are also likely to be enhanced in the budget for the next fiscal.
But there could be reduction in customs duty on the CNG operated trucks imported in CBU condition.
The finance adviser is likely to fulfill, partially, the long-standing demand of the newspaper industry to waive customs duty on the imported of newsprint, either in rolls or sheets.
Following the announcement of the budget the SIM card for cell phones might also become costlier. There could be substantial hike in the supplementary duty on the item in the upcoming budget.