Photo: Collected

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 11, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed exempting the additional 5 percent import duty on ten essential raw materials used in the manufacture of smart cards and banking debit and credit cards.

The proposal aims to support the growing demand for digital services, including family cards, farmer cards and e-health cards, by reducing production costs for card manufacturers and facilitating wider adoption of digital identification and payment systems.

The finance minister made the announcement while placing the national budget of Tk 9.38 lakh crore for fiscal year 2026-27 in the Jatiya Sangsad today. 

He said the duty exemption would help strengthen the country's digital infrastructure and support ongoing efforts to expand technology-enabled public services and financial inclusion.