Bangladesh Bank has issued a circular allowing mobile operators in the country to receive roaming service bills from their customers abroad in Taka, the local currency, under specific conditions.

The move aims to simplify the process for residents travelling abroad who require roaming services.

According to the circular, each customer can pay up to Tk 6,000 per trip and a maximum of Tk 30,000 in a calendar year for roaming services.

This limit applies regardless of the number of mobile numbers or operators used.

To activate roaming, customers must present a valid visa (if required) and travel ticket, and the service must be activated at least one week prior to the journey.

For mobile operators to make payments to foreign network partners, authorised dealers of foreign exchange are allowed to remit the amounts, subject to strict documentation and verification.

The dealers must collect agreements, invoices, proof of tax payments, and a statement showing customer earnings and international payables.

Operators must also provide an undertaking confirming that roaming charges in Taka did not exceed the limits set by the central bank.

Additionally, authorised dealers will prioritise using foreign currency from the operator's existing accounts and only use Taka if necessary. All remittances must be processed through the authorised dealers' designated branch and reported to the relevant department of Bangladesh Bank.

"We commend Bangladesh Bank's decision to eliminate the credit card requirement for accessing international roaming services," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata PLC.

He further said that this progressive move is poised to retain significant revenue within the country, curbing outflows to foreign operators and bolstering its telecommunications sector.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission for their steadfast support in this initiative," Alam added.