The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has announced a significant reduction in customs duties on mobile phones and components, effective Tuesday.

In a bid to make digital devices more affordable amid rising living costs, the NBR issued two statutory regulatory orders slashing the duty on imported finished handsets from 25% to 10%.

This move is expected to lower the price of premium smartphones (priced above BDT 30,000) by approximately BDT 5,500.

To maintain a level playing field for the domestic industry, the NBR also halved the duty on raw materials and components for local assemblers, reducing it from 10% to 5%.

This adjustment is projected to lower the cost of locally assembled phones in the same price bracket by about BDT 1,500.

By balancing consumer interests with the sustainability of local manufacturing, the government aims to expand digital inclusion and improve access to essential communication and financial services.

Alongside these tax cuts, the government is strictly enforcing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) through the BTRC to combat the grey market and counterfeit devices.

While the system is designed to block stolen or smuggled phones and protect revenue, it has met with pushback from small and medium-scale retailers.

Traders are currently demanding a longer transition period and clearer guidelines to prevent business disruptions during the full rollout of the registration system.