As a four-day fair of cellphone sets and connections began in Dhaka yesterday, GrameenPhone (GP) urged the government to introduce zero tariff on import of mobile phone sets for further growth of cellular sector.

Although the government reduced the tariff to Tk 1,500 from Tk 3,000 a set, it did not yield expected results, Mehboob Chowdhury, director (Sales and Marketing) of GP, said while addressing the inaugural function of the show at Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre.

The reduction in tariff could not stop smuggling of handsets into the country, he said proposing the government to introduce zero tariff.

"Had the government waived the import duty it would have earned more revenue from service charges and VAT," he added.

Post and Telecommunications Minister M Aminul Haque, who attended the function as chief guest, urged the operators to offer cellphones at affordable prices.

Syed Marghub Morshed, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommuni-cations Regulatory Commission (BTRC), called upon operators to introduce low call tariff structure like the neighbouring countries.

Major cellphone set vendors including Nokia, Siemens, DBTEL, Sagem, Panasonic and SonyEricsson are taking part in the GP-sponsored fair styled ''Mobile Mela''.

An SMS (short message system) competition with attractive prizes such as car, motorcycle and air-conditioner also features the second version of the show. Messages from phones sold in the fair will be eligible for the competition.

Entry ticket for the fair is fixed at Tk 20 per person. The proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital and Grameen Shikha.

The fair will remain open to all from 10am to 8pm everyday.