The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) yesterday demanded of the government to withdraw 35 per cent supplementary tax on the pay channels proposed in the new budget.

Addressing a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, COAB president SM Anwar Parvez said many subscribers even could not afford the charge of cable TV when supplementary tax was 15 percent in the last year's budget.

COAB General Secretary Nizam Uddin Masud, Joint General Secretary Kazi Borno, Organising Secretary ABM Saiful Hossain Shohel and Press and Publication Secretary Kamrul Alam Shamim, among other COAB leaders, were present at the press conference.

COAB leaders suggested if the government collect total revenue directly from the Cable TV operators through treasury Chalan, the revenue collection might be increased.

They also alleged that the distributors are not paying proper government revenue as they do not provide any receipts against operators' payment.

They also said there is no logical ground to impose 35 per cent supplementary tax on the pay channels with the existing 15 per cent tax and 15 per cent VAT on the plea of airing advertisement of foreign products. But the tax can not control the advertisement of foreign products, they argued.

They also said if the supplementary tax was not reduced they will be bound to increase the monthly client's charge.

They said the government approved the import of pay channels without formulation of policy for pay channels and for this the cable operators were being affected financially.