Import of Three Types of Mobile Phones will be Banned, Along with Seven More Decisions

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

Information Technology Desk: Bangladeshi expatriates holding registration cards from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) will now be allowed to bring a total of three mobile phones without paying tax. At the same time, the import of cloned phones, stolen/snatched phones, and refurbished phones into Bangladesh will be banned.

These decisions were made at a meeting held on 1 December at the Secretariat with the participation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Ministry of Commerce, the Posts and Telecommunications Division, and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). In addition to the mobile phone rules, the meeting adopted seven other key decisions.

Key decisions from the meeting:

1. Expatriates can use smartphones in Bangladesh without registration for up to 60 days. Beyond 60 days, mobile phone registration will be required.

2. Expatriates with BMET registration cards can bring three phones tax-free—their own handset plus two additional phones. For a fourth phone, tax must be paid. Those without BMET cards can bring their personal phone plus one additional phone tax-free, provided they carry valid purchase documents to prevent misuse by smugglers at airports in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, or the Middle East.

3. The customs duty on legally imported smartphones will be significantly reduced, making legally imported phones more affordable. Currently, import duty is around 61 percent, and the government has started steps to reduce it.

4. Reducing import duty must be coordinated with lowering duties and VAT for locally manufactured phones in 13–14 factories; otherwise, foreign investment in local mobile companies could be seriously affected. BTRC and NBR have held multiple discussions with the Ministry of Commerce to align duties and support the domestic device industry.

5. Users must remain alert to unauthorized SIM use in their name. Cybercrimes, online scams, online/mobile gambling, or mobile banking fraud could be conducted using SIMs registered in your name. Always use SIMs registered in your own name to avoid registration issues and legal problems.

6. Illegal mobile stock currently in the market with valid IMEI numbers can be legalized before 16 December by submitting the IMEI list to BTRC and paying reduced duties. This does not apply to cloned or refurbished phones.

7. Existing functional mobile phones will not be deactivated before 16 December, so people should ignore rumors. From 16 December, the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) will be operational, and mobile phones without valid IMEI numbers will no longer be allowed. Illegal, smuggled, and cloned phones will be banned in Bangladesh.

Additionally, the dumping of old foreign phones into Bangladesh will be stopped. Smugglers attempting to import electronic waste by changing phone casings will be prevented. Airports and land ports handling flights from India, Thailand, and China are being monitored, and customs operations will be conducted promptly.

The proposed Telecommunications Ordinance (Amendment) 2025 ensures data protection for SIM and IMEI registration, and violations of registration data have been made punishable under law. Citizens are advised not to spread or believe unnecessary rumors.