Mobile handsets to be costlier

Mobile handsets device purchasing cost will increase in the next fiscal as Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed to hike the customer duty of mobile handsets importing to 10 percent from existing 5 percent.

At the same time he also proposed to cut some taxes on importing different equipments for boosting assembling mobile handsets, laptops and tablet computers in the country.

Mobile phone importers and mobile operators criticised the proposals while aspirant assemblers welcome the moves.