The government is preparing to sharply reduce import duties on legally imported smartphones, a move expected to make handsets more affordable across Bangladesh.
Smartphones brought in through official channels currently face about 61% in taxes.
The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology confirmed that the process of revising the rate is underway.
Officials said taxes on devices assembled at the country’s 13-14 local factories will also be adjusted to keep the fast-growing domestic manufacturing industry competitive and attractive to foreign investors.
A senior National Board of Revenue (NBR) official, seeking anonymity, said customs duty on imported smartphones is likely to be cut from 25% to 15%.
Industry insiders estimate this will bring the total tax burden on completely built units down to 40%-45%, compared with 16%-24% for locally assembled phones.
The plan was discussed at a high-level meeting on 1 December 2025 at the Secretariat office of Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser, with representatives from the BTRC and NBR in attendance. Several key decisions were finalised.
The ministry also reassured the public that active mobile phones will not be shut down, urging people to ignore misleading rumours circulating online.
For stock phones imported illegally but carrying valid IMEI numbers, a temporary opportunity is being arranged to legalise them with reduced duty by submitting the IMEI list to the BTRC before 16 December. The facility will not apply to cloned or refurbished devices.
Expatriates will receive relaxed rules as well. BMET cardholders may bring in three phones duty-free – two new handsets in addition to their personal device.
A fourth phone will require payment of taxes. Expatriates without a BMET card may bring one additional phone duty-free.
Travellers must carry purchase receipts to prevent misuse by smugglers who often press expatriates into transporting gold or high-end phones through foreign airports.
Expatriates may use their phones in Bangladesh without registration for up to 60 days, after which registration becomes mandatory for longer stays.
Officials said coordination among the BTRC, NBR and the Ministry of Commerce to harmonise duties on imported and locally assembled devices will support growth in the domestic device industry.
On 29 October, BTRC Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Md Emdadul Bari announced that all unregistered mobile phones in Bangladesh will be deactivated from 16 December.
The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) will detect and block unauthorised devices.
Phones already in use will be automatically registered using biometric SIM data, while users of gifted or second-hand devices must register according to BTRC guidelines.
BTRC officials say that once NEIR is fully operational, illegal phone imports will no longer be possible.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
