The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) in a statement Thursday expressed their satisfaction over the government's move to withdraw the existing specific tax on SIM cards, and replace it with a 15% VAT levied on the actual sale price.

AMTOB Secretary General Lt Col. Mohammad Zulfikar (Retd.) said, "In the proposed national budget for FY 2026–27 presented in the National Parliament today (Thursday), decision to convert the VAT on mobile SIM cards to standard value-based system is a timely and welcome initiative. Under this proposal, the existing will be withdrawn and replaced with a 15% VAT levied on the actual sale price."

He added that the association believes this will play a positive role in bringing in nearly 40 percent of the country's marginalized population—who still remain outside the reach of telecommunications services—and will accelerate digital progress.

The statement however also adds that to ensure the sustainable growth of the sector and further strengthen the pace of digital transformation, the government should reconsider several important policy measures, including reducing the tax burden on consumers, rationalizing the corporate tax rate, withdrawing VAT on spectrum, and removing the supplementary duty imposed on OTT services.

"We hope the government will give due consideration to these issues and adopt a more balanced and forward-looking policy framework that will make Bangladesh's telecommunications sector more dynamic and inclusive," the statement added.