Mahmudul Hasan

BTRC’s independence eroded over the years

Restoring the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC’s) independence by reverting to the original legal framework should be a priority for reform, according to its new chairman Major General (retd) Emdad Ul Bari.

1w ago

Banglalink’s tower sales: BTRC’s negligence deprives state coffers of Tk 69 crore

The state coffer has been deprived of Tk 69 crore for the telecom regulator’s failure to collect the 5.5 percent of the sales price of Summit Tower’s acquisition of Banglalink’s 2,000 mobile towers.

1w ago

Bangabandhu-1 satellite: Another white elephant

The Bangabandhu-1 satellite, one of the marquee projects of the Awami League government, has turned into a financial black hole, costing the state coffer upwards of Tk 1,500 crore.

2w ago

Act fast to address labour unrest

Prompt steps are needed to address the workers’ demands and quell the ongoing labour unrest, said Socialist Labour Front President Razekuzzaman Ratan.

2w ago

Citycell wants licence reinstatement

Citycell, the country’s first mobile operator which has not been operational since 2016, has sent a letter to the telecom regulator recently seeking the reinstatement of its licence.

2w ago

BTRC’s curious U-turn on Summit Communications

The telecom regulator has walked back on its decision just two months ago to allow Summit Communications to transfer its shares without any fee, in a development that raises questions about the extent of benefits the company received during the 15 years of the previous Awami League government.

3w ago

Mobile subscriber numbers drop significantly in July

The number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh has dropped significantly in July, as all the operators lost customers. .The overall number of mobile subscribers is calculated based on the purchase of new SIMs (subscriber identity modules) minus the number of SIMs whose ownership have beco

4w ago

Handset production rises, but uncertainty looms large

Local production of handsets saw a significant increase in the first half of the year, but manufacturers continue to face challenges due to reduced demand for high-end smartphones.

1m ago
April 5, 2023
April 5, 2023

Inflation jumps to 7-month high in March

Inflation in Bangladesh jumped to a seven-month high of 9.33 per cent in March as food prices rose and the adjustment of oil, gas, and electricity prices took hold, highlighting the pains low-income households are going through.

March 30, 2023
March 30, 2023

Business process outsourcing industry growing steadily

Bangladesh’s business process outsourcing industry is growing steadily, creating jobs and bringing in foreign currencies, but the growth has failed to live up to expectations due to a lack of human resources and language skills among graduates. 

March 27, 2023
March 27, 2023

Internet subscriptions rebound after six months

The number of internet subscribers in Bangladesh saw its first rebound after six months in February this year thanks to a jump in mobile internet users.

March 26, 2023
March 26, 2023

Telcos’ payment service set to spark debate

Mobile network operators have launched a service that would allow subscribers to make payments to secure some government certificates using their mobile balances, a move that may generate a debate about its legality.

March 26, 2023
March 26, 2023

‘Dearth of communication skills hinders IT sector growth’

The lack of basic communication skills -- speaking clearly, understanding the needs of their customers and writing properly -- among fresh graduates is a major drawback for local industries, especially for the information technology (IT) sector in Bangladesh.

March 24, 2023
March 24, 2023

Fashion brands expect huge Eid sales as Covid fear goes away

Though Eid is still a month away, shopping centring the festival has already begun as consumers are flocking to fashion outlets to buy lifestyle items.

March 20, 2023
March 20, 2023

Mobile subscriber numbers up in Feb

The number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh continued to grow for a second month in February on earlier falling for several months, with all but Teletalk displaying a solid performance.   

March 13, 2023
March 13, 2023

‘Smart Bangladesh needs proper policy’

Bangladesh has set its target to go beyond becoming a digitalised nation and so it needs to ensure proper policy framework to realise its “Smart Bangladesh” vision, said Vivek Sood, joint acting group chief executive officer of Axiata Group

March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023

Local firms show manufacturing capabilities

From locally manufactured televisions and printed circuit boards to jeans made out of jute, a diverse range of products are being displayed by Bangladeshi companies at Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 to attract foreign clients. 

March 7, 2023
March 7, 2023

E-commerce buoyant riding on women entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in keeping Bangladesh’s digital commerce segment buoyant using their skills and resilience, giving a much-needed fillip to a sector reeling under crisis because of plummeting sales, scams and unprecedented inflation.