Cable TV network owners on Tuesday urged the government not to impose 400 percent supplementary tax on foreign pay channels in the upcoming budget to be placed in parliament on June 5.
They also demanded that the government take steps to reduce influence of people with political affiliation in the dish business.
“Through newspaper reports we came to know that government is going to impose a 400-percent supplementary tax on foreign pay channels in the next budget which is now 25 percent. We’re fervently requesting the government to keep the supplementary tax within our capacity,” Cable TV Unnayan Sammilita Parishad convener Mir Hossain Akter said.
He was addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Mir Hossain Akter said, “If the government raises the tax in such a high rate, cable TV network users will have to pay over 1000 taka as monthly line rent. So we hope our finance minister will give a second thought before raising tax on foreign pay channels.”
He alleged that the political leaders are trying to capture the network business saying they extort money from them every month; even they occupied the business in many places.
The parishad convener also demanded that the government halt the process of giving licenses for new operators, saying there is no need for new operators.
In reply of a question, association’s joint convener Syed Habib Ali said they requested the Information Ministry to give a list of Bangladeshi TV channels so that they can assemble it within first 1-30. “But the ministry is yet to give it.”
Source: UNBConnect