Mobile-phone operators in the country have already imposed a hiked tariff a day after the new FY 2016-17 budget proposed an increase in the supplementary duty on SIM-card-related services.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, in his budget presented in Parliament on Thursday, suggested an increase from the present 3 percent to 5 percent.

The operators began charging the new tariff from Friday morning after informing the subscribers through text messages claiming they got a statutory regulatory order (SRO) from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

The operators said the NBR issued the SRO after the finance minister proposed the hike in supplementary duty in the new budget.

Finance Minister Muhith on Thursday told the House that taxes on SIM cards had been ‘significantly’ reduced in the current FY 2015-16 budget, resulting in a drop in revenue from the telecom sector.

According to the new tariff, one subscriber has to pay Tk 121.75 (100+ surcharge 1+VAT 15+ supplementary duty 5.75) instead of Tk 119.45 (100+ surcharge 1+VAT 15+ supplementary duty 3.45).