South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-Keun has stressed on the introduction of the While List System for parallel or illegal import mobile handsets so that terrorists and extremists or money laundering entities cannot utilize PI phones.
The envoy said at his first meeting in his tenure with Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Tuesday.
The parallel or illegal import (PI) of mobile phones further complicates the industry’s business situation, hampering local manufacturing. PI phones have increased by more than 50 percent, amounting to Tk. 5,000 Cr. (USD 0.5 Bln), for which the Bangladesh Government is losing its revenue up to Tk.1,000 Cr. (USD 100 Mln).
If the While List System is applied to PI phones, phones that are not registered with their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number with the system will not work. By doing so, terrorists and extremists or money laundering entities cannot utilize PI phones.
Ambassador Lee adduced that if the White List system is ushered in Bangladesh, customers will desist from buying PI, thereby protecting legal distribution lines. As a corollary, manufacturers will increase investment, and more jobs will be created.
National security will also be enhanced in the absence of terrorists and criminals taking advantage of national communication due to the absence of IMEI, he added.
The envoy also stressed on an increase in foreign investments in the Bangladesh Mobile Industry by fostering investment-friendly situations.
South Korea had interest in further development of ICT infrastructures, including digital technology of Bangladesh, he said.
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During the meeting, they also exchanged views on issues related to bilateral interests, especially in digital technology and the production and marketing of digital devices, including mobile sets.
A 15.8 percent of additional trade VAT, which is being imposed in multiple business stages of the mobile phone sales starting from this Fiscal Year (22-23), is negatively affecting the local mobile phone manufacturers.
Thus, now the mobile phone industry is suffering a sales drop of up to 50 percent, which is also affecting government tax revenue.
The envoy suggested that withdrawing or reducing the trading VAT on mobile phones from the business stage can make consumers afford hand gadgets at an affordable price which will help achieve digitalisation and Smart Bangladesh.
He also hoped that the year 2023 would be a milestone year to elevate the Korea-Bangladesh partnership to a new height, including enhanced ICT cooperation. Both countries are ready to celebrate the 50th diplomatic anniversary together.