Mahmudul Hasan

Bangladeshi card spending falls in India, rises in Thailand, Singapore

Credit card spending by Bangladeshi citizens in India has plummeted in recent months while it is rising in Thailand and Singapore, according to central bank data.

17h ago

Inactive SIM recycling period reduced to 12 months

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has shortened the recycling period for inactive SIM cards from 18 months to 12 months in a bid to address a shortage of mobile numbers available in the country.

17h ago

BTRC recalls bandwidth transit bid to India

The internet regulator is abandoning its plan to allow Bangladesh to be the transit point for bandwidth supply to India’s northeastern states on concerns that it could weaken the country’s potential to become a regional internet hub.

1w ago

BTRC cancels licences of 334 ISPs, others

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the licences of 334 internet service providers (ISPs), business process outsourcing (BPO), telecommunication value added services (TVAS) and vehicle tracking services (VTS) mainly for failing to comply with regulatory rules for licence renewal.

1w ago

BTRC lifts bar on local cache for faster internet

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday repealed a directive it had passed in 2021 restricting small and medium-sized internet service providers (ISPs) from installing cache servers for their network..This policy reversal is expected to enhance internet spee

2w ago

Bangladesh on track for next IMF loans

Bangladesh is on track to meet all 12 conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to qualify for the fourth tranche of a $4.7 billion loan programme, only missing the revenue collection target.

2w ago

Tax hike dents mobile subscriber base

The mobile subscriber base in Bangladesh dropped by over 52 lakh between July and September, the first three months of the current fiscal year, as operators slashed subsidised sales of SIM cards due to increased taxes.

2w ago

How regulatory hurdles keep internet price high and speed low

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has implemented a number of policies over the past 16 years that, according to internet service providers and users, have made Bangladesh pay higher prices for slower internet speeds compared to its neighbours.

3w ago
September 20, 2024
September 20, 2024

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.

September 19, 2024
September 19, 2024

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.

September 15, 2024
September 15, 2024

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.

September 15, 2024
September 15, 2024

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.

September 11, 2024
September 11, 2024

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.

September 3, 2024
September 3, 2024

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.

September 1, 2024
September 1, 2024

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

August 29, 2024
August 29, 2024

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.

August 26, 2024
August 26, 2024

Mobile service during disasters: No contingency system despite available funds

The telecom ministry has failed to establish a National Emergency Telecommunication System (NETS) to maintain telecommunication and internet services during disasters despite starting the initiative almost two years ago.

August 22, 2024
August 22, 2024

BB appoints administrator at Nagad

The Bangladesh Bank yesterday appointed an administrator to Nagad after one too many allegations of irregularities in the mobile financial service provider’s operations and dealings.