Dhaka, Nov. 10 -- The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has sent a letter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), requesting a reduction in import duties on mobile phones and VAT on domestically produced handsets.

The letter also proposed reducing the import duty on mobile phone manufacturing components.

The regulatory body also called for steps to legalise mobile phones that entered the country illegally.

BTRC Deputy Director Md Zakir Hossain Khan said the letter was sent to the NBR chairman on Nov 4.

The BTRC move comes amid the government setting the stage to introduce the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system from Dec 16, the Victory Day.

The government aims to register every mobile handset th...