DHAKA: Country’s leading mobile operator Grameenphone decided to increase the price of SIM cards, as a direct consequence of proposed tax on SIM replacement in national budget for financial year 2014-15.

From now on, all new prepaid SIM will cost BDT 200 (up from BDT 188). In addition customers will have to pay BDT 125 for replacement SIMs (up from BDT 75).

In a press on Wednesday GP authority said: “The increase comes out of business necessity, as the proposed BDT 100 tax on SIM replacement put new pressure on its already overburdened tax liabilities. 

Mobile industry is providing the lowest call tariffs in the world, yet mobile operators are paying about BDT 55 to government for every BDT 100 earned. 

We believe that imposition of a new tax on SIM replacement while retaining the BDT 300 SIM tax on all new connections will hamper further penetration of mobile connectivity and hinder the realization of Digital Bangladesh.”

BDST: 1908 HRS, JUNE 18, 2014