The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The body representing the IT businessmen urged the Government to extend income tax exemption period for software, call centres, data-entry and data-processing sectors from three to at least five years for boosting the sector.

Leaders of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) at a press conference also demanded special budgetary allocation for the establishment of Software Technology Park (STP) in the city's Mohakhali with a view to develop the IT service sector.

BASIS, the national trade body representing the Software and IT Enabled Services (ITES), organised the event at its conference hall in the city's Kawran Bazar.

President of BASIS Habibullah N Khan and Secretary General Nahid Ahmed addressed the press conference, while former president Rafiqul Islam Rowly, Joint Secretary General Zeeshan Mahbub, Treasurer Farhana Anwar Rahman, Director Mubin Khan and former treasurer AKM Fahim Mashroor were present.

Habibullah said the proposed budget allowed three years income tax exemption period for the sectors, which was not adequate to attract foreign and local investors to come into the nascent sectors. That was why they demanded exemption for ten years first, he said.

"Now we demand at least five years tax exemption period," he added.

He also demanded enhancement of depreciation from 50 to 100 per cent for promoting investment in the sector, as edge equipment, hardware and software were becoming obsolete very fast due to rapid change of technology.

BASIS leaders called upon the government to bring digital content development and management, animation, website services, medical transcription, geographical information services, IT support and software maintenance services, Project management and implementation services, business process outsourcing, computer aided engineering and design and remote IT maintenance under the tax exemption.

Stressing the need for introduction of e-Governance for implementation of government declared development budget, BASIS leaders said special allocation for purchasing software and technology services should be included in the Annual Development Programmes.