43.3% Import Tax on Mobile Phone! How Logical is this?

[DYING_S0UL]

In my opinion this does not make any sense, unless Bangladesh is an important manufacturer of phones and wanted to kept their national industry alive, by keeping international competition away.
But since most phones are manufactured in China, I assume this is nothing but some cash grab by the government of Bangladesh, they know all their citizens will eventually renew their phones and they do not want to lose any chance to profit from it...

The fact they previous tax was over 61 percent is insane to me.

I don't think they are! NO Nope! They don't manufacture all the available flagship phones here, their capabilities are limited, and target low to mid end phone users and in some cases high ends also. But most of the times as far I have known it's the mid and low end users. Note that I did a mistake, they do not manufacture anything here. They are nowhere near manufacturing. They import the parts separately, pays 5-10% (now 5) TAX and assembles and distributes. That's just it.

As a consumers myself, I understand this much that these 9 local manufacturers are trying to manopolize this whole mobile phone industry. Again note that I am not taking sides. I or my family aren't involved with mobile phone business or anything. I am only a normal consumer who thinks, what's happening right now is wrong.]

Could this be a deliberate acts by the government of that country to put a high tax rates on mobile devices while they enjoy free privileges and opportunities. I think the percentage of tax is way too high have they ever thought of the citizens that tends not to afford such devices at that very rates. There should be a means to turn this down and reduce the high rates so every citizens can have access.

Not the whole govt but certain high offcials who are helping their rich friends getting richer while creating a toxic envirnoment for the other group (unofficial sellers). These high official thinks they can get away with anything, that they''ll demand anything and the people will listen.

[rezakurnia66]

In my opinion this does not make any sense, unless Bangladesh is an important manufacturer of phones and wanted to kept their national industry alive, by keeping international competition away.
But since most phones are manufactured in China, I assume this is nothing but some cash grab by the government of Bangladesh, they know all their citizens will eventually renew their phones and they do not want to lose any chance to profit from it...

The fact they previous tax was over 61 percent is insane to me.

Right, adopting 43% import tax on mobile phone how to make local product keep existing behind the local citizen will priority for using local product than foreign product although have better qualities. But its not always worth it make local product of mobile phone lack competitor after high import tax for mobile phone if the Bagladesh Citizen want to buy Iphone or highest mobile phone from other countries such as Samsung.
In my country, tax import for mobile phone not really high around 20% and specific for the mobile phone has values up to $500, if you import the mobile phone under $500 you don't need to pay tax one cent yet. Its make local product will giving the best product and has good competitor.

[shinratensei_]

Smart phones are a very important tool for everyone these days and the government gets a huge tax from them but it should never be more than 20%. The issue that op has mentioned here is that a huge tax is being imposed. This will create more confusion among the people of this country and people will think more about tax evasion. Because when you have to buy a mobile device with such a high tax, the price of that device will automatically increase a lot which is a injustice for the people of that country.

Could this be a deliberate acts by the government of that country to put a high tax rates on mobile devices while they enjoy free privileges and opportunities. I think the percentage of tax is way too high have they ever thought of the citizens that tends not to afford such devices at that very rates. There should be a means to turn this down and reduce the high rates so every citizens can have access.

More of trying to make the phone manufacturer to build factory there to cut down on tax fee and make it cheaper on the market while making additional money on the side with the taxes I guess.
The tax is insane and honestly tax for phone should be sitting at 10-20% maximum. Even that is already pretty high.