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The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), in its budget reaction, urged the government to provide policy support and maintain the tax-free status of the ICT sector to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in information technology by 2041.
BASIS emphasised that tax exemption will significantly boost the IT sector, serving as the nucleus in building a Smart Bangladesh that includes various sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, banking, and manufacturing, which are integral to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The organisation believes this initiative is pivotal for achieving self-sufficiency in software and IT services.
BASIS also outlined the future goal of achieving self-sufficiency in information technology.
They stressed the importance of prioritising the domestic IT sector in government procurement, suggesting that foreign institutions should partner with local companies when participating in government tenders.
As Bangladesh transitions to a developing country in 2026, establishing a recognised system of intellectual property valuation will be crucial,” said BASIS, adding that this will help attract foreign investment and enable entrepreneurs to secure loans and investments from domestic banks.
BASIS called for the inclusion of cloud services, system integration, medical transcription, SEO services, website hosting, IT outsourcing, and the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) under the tax exemption.
BASIS urged the government to maintain current duty-free facilities for investors in economic zones and hi-tech parks, who face a potential 1.0 per cent import duty on capital equipment.
They believe that collaborating with the private sector to maintain these benefits will significantly increase foreign investment in hi-tech parks over the next few years.
The key ICT association emphasised the importance of prioritising mobile phones, smartphones, and smart devices for Smart Bangladesh, calling for the withdrawal of newly imposed tariff proposals to ensure technology benefits reach everyone, including marginalised communities.