Expatriate workers can now bring two new phones duty-free: Dr Asif Nazrul

Dr Asif Nazrul, the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, has refuted the propaganda being spread on social media via expatriate workers' mobile phones.

"Lying about the interim government or about me is not new. Some people on social media are now spreading rumours that expatriates are being treated unfairly and discriminated against because of their mobile phone sets," he wrote in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Monday.

He revealed the truth in this regard, claiming that falsehoods are being spread on social media about the government enacting a new rule requiring people to pay tax if they bring more than one mobile set from abroad.

However, he stated that during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, expatriate workers were only allowed to bring one new set in addition to their used one.

"To improve expatriate facilities, the incumbent government has allowed them to bring more (two new) phone sets." That means expatriate workers can bring two new sets along with their used one," he explained.

The adviser stated that if one brings more than two new sets, he or she will only have to pay tax on the extra one.

He stated that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) implemented this rule by changing the baggage rule to provide expatriate facilities.

However, Dr Asif Nazrul stated that this facility is only available to expatriate workers who have received clearance from the BMET (Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare), and that the previous rules apply to everyone else.

Regarding expatriate mobile phone registration, he stated that beginning December 16, anyone who begins using a new mobile phone set will be required to register it within 60 days.

"This applies to every person in Bangladesh. This means it applies to both locals and expats returning home. This law was enacted to prevent kidnapping, threats, extortion, and gambling in the country and abroad with illegal sets. "This law was not enacted to harass anyone but to protect them from harassment," he explained.

Dr Asif Nazrul urged expatriates to be wary of rumour spreaders and backbiters, stating that both are major sins in Islam.

"Look how far the rumour has spread: some are spreading the unbelievable news that expatriates can only stay in the country for 60 days!" Prevent all of these heinous lies," he said.