ISPAB expresses dismay over budget for not considering their proposals

ISPAB had put forward four proposals aimed at transitioning from Digital Bangladesh to Smart Bangladesh. However, none of these proposals were reflected in the budget announced by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

The ISP industry, which has been playing a pivotal in maintaining digital connectivity for decades, is shocked and dismayed by this, according to a press release.

Emdadul Haque, President of ISPAB, voiced his concerns, stating that the absence of their services from the long-desired ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) category in the budget is deeply regrettable.
He emphasised that this omission undermines the Prime Minister's initiative and the decisions made by the Smart Bangladesh Taskforce's executive committee.

Haque further pointed out that despite the Prime Minister's instructions, the budget failed to include all ISP services under ITES, reduce duties on IT sector materials, and withdraw the 10 per cent advance tax on broadband internet services.

These measures, according to ISPAB, are crucial for the expansion of internet services and the continued development of Digital Bangladesh. Without these, the goal of building a Smart Bangladesh could be significantly hindered.

ISPAB has called on the Finance Minister and the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to reconsider their stance and include all ISP services under ITES to ensure optimal use of the internet and to remove existing obstacles.

The press release highlighted the burdensome 15.50 per cent VAT and duty on essential internet equipment such as modems, Ethernet interface cards, computer network switches, hubs, routers, and server batteries.