Software, ICT need special attention in budget: BASIS

The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has demanded that at least 5 percent of the allocation for digitisation in the upcoming national budget be especially reserved for software and ICT items.

The government allocated Tk 9,242 crore to specifically ensure digital services for citizens through the implementation of 76 projects by some ministries and agencies in the current fiscal year. The figure was Tk 5,765 crore for fiscal 2016-17. “This is a huge amount of money and almost all of it has been spent for infrastructure construction in the name of digitisation,” said Syed Almas Kabir, president of BASIS. But digitisation cannot be ensured solely through infrastructure while leaving out software, he said. The BASIS has prepared a budget proposal and is giving immense importance on this issue, he said adding that it has already shared it with the National Board of Revenue and would submit it before the finance minister soon.

All the ministries and divisions will get the allocation, the education ministry the highest, stated the association. If the authorities offers significance to the issue, the country’s software program region will develop in addition which will quickly song digitisation, he added. The BASIS additionally demanded removal of procedural challenges to get a 20 percentage authorities money incentive on exports of their members.

Kabir also sought simplifying the procedure of getting a tax exemption certificate, which helps availing such advantages supposed for the ICT industry. The apex change physique of software program and information provider zone additionally entreated the income regulator to carry value-added tax on all strategies of net usage. Earlier, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh additionally demanded the same. A 15 percentage VAT is charged for net usage through land connections whilst a 21.75 percent VAT, supplementary obligation and surcharge for utilization via cellular phones.