Mahmudul Hasan

VAT hike deals fresh blow to local handset industry

Bangladesh’s mobile phone manufacturing industry, once hailed as a potential pillar of the country’s digital ambitions, is bracing for a fresh blow after the interim government proposed a hike in value-added tax (VAT) at the production stage in the national budget for fiscal year 2025-26.

6d ago

Stability takes priority over bold reforms

Say economists about budget

1w ago

Digital dreams, disconnected realities

A deep-rooted divide in access to devices, internet connectivity, and digital literacy separates rural communities from urban counterparts

1w ago

Starlink signing deals with local firms to expand footprint

Starlink is steadily consolidating its presence in Bangladesh through a series of partnership agreements with local companies, with deals spanning ground station development, colocation and data centre services, core site hosting, transmission, and international internet gateway (IIG) facilities.

1w ago

Regulator to cap SIM ownership at 10 per user

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to reduce the maximum number of SIM cards a user can register under their name from 15 to 10.

1w ago

Four more companies seek NTTN licences

Four new companies have applied to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) licences, reflecting renewed interest in the transmission business in the country.

2w ago

Broadband internet prices cut by Tk 100

The internet regulator has reduced broadband internet prices at the consumer level by up to 20 percent in a bid to make internet access more affordable across the country.

2w ago

Draft telecom policy keeps door open for monopoly

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) draft policy to reform its complex licensing regime arrives with bold promises — streamlining processes, encouraging competition, and attracting foreign investment.

3w ago
May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Budget to shrink amid fiscal strain

Bangladesh’s interim government is preparing to unveil a rare contractionary budget on June 2, driven by a sharp rise in interest payment that is crowding out fiscal space and forcing spending cuts.

May 9, 2025
May 9, 2025

BBS finally empowered to publish data independently

As part of policy reforms aimed at improving the credibility and accuracy of national statistics, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has been empowered to publish official data without prior government approval.

April 30, 2025
April 30, 2025

Local handset production drops as grey market expands

Handset production in Bangladesh declined significantly in the first quarter of 2025 as the grey market continued to dominate the domestic market.

April 29, 2025
April 29, 2025

BTRC to ask Banglalink to pay at least Tk 70cr in tower sale fees

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to issue a final directive to Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, asking the mobile operator to deposit 5.5 percent of the total value of its tower sales, along with all applicable VAT and late fees, to Summit Towers Limited within ten working days.

April 28, 2025
April 28, 2025

BTRC approves licence for Starlink

This is the swiftest recommendation from the BTRC for any such licence, according to a BTRC official.

April 24, 2025
April 24, 2025

BTRC’s new policy seeks to cut red tape

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has unveiled a draft policy aimed at overhauling the telecommunications licensing and regulatory framework, although a lack of clarity in certain areas may lead to disputes over service boundaries.

April 18, 2025
April 18, 2025

Debate heats up over locking SIM slots for smartphone sales on EMI

The major telecommunication companies in Bangladesh and their smaller peers are in a debate over whether they should be allowed to lock all SIM slots when selling smartphones on instalment plans.

April 16, 2025
April 16, 2025

Starlink applies for BTRC licence

If approved, Starlink will become the first company to receive a licence under the NGSO guidelines

April 10, 2025
April 10, 2025

How youth-led startups are solving real-world problems

From revolutionising education to transforming underwater inspections, youth-led startups in Bangladesh are making waves with bold innovations and creative solutions..The potential and passion of these entrepreneurs were on full display at the Youth Entrepreneurship Expo 2025, organised as

March 28, 2025
March 28, 2025

Eid sales surge online, yet fall short of business hopes

The country’s e-commerce and F-commerce platforms are witnessing a surge in sales ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, but growth remains below expectations.