Mahmudul Hasan

IT exports witness slight rise in July-March

Bangladesh’s IT exports witnessed a slight rise in the first nine months of the current financial year, buoyed by growing global demand for AI-powered services.

3d ago

Repeating mistakes: opportunity missed to make internet better

True reform requires the courage to correct the policy missteps of the past

3d ago

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.

2w ago

Stability takes priority over bold reforms

Say economists about budget

2w ago

Digital dreams, disconnected realities

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

2w 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.

2w 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.

3w 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.

3w ago
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.

August 20, 2024
August 20, 2024

Internet blackout had no legal basis

No legislation explicitly permits the internet blackout enforced by the Sheikh Hasina government to quash protests centring the quota reform movement.

August 16, 2024
August 16, 2024

GP, Robi get 20MHz of spectrum each to improve service

Grameenphone and Robi, the top two mobile network operators in Bangladesh, have each secured a spectrum allocation of 20 megahertz (MHz) to boost the quality of their services.

August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024

What you need to know about internet crackdown in Bangladesh

The Daily Star presents the whole situation on a chronological order

August 9, 2024
August 9, 2024

ICT industry sees hope on the horizon

ICT entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, who faced uncertainties due to an internet blackout enforced by the government to suppress protests in recent weeks, are now brimming with hope following the fall of the dictatorial Sheikh Hasina-led government.