[🇧🇩] ICT Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

AIS: the key tool for good management

Accounting Information System (AIS) of an entity is essentially an Accounting Software. This is the core hub of all the financial data for the Management of Corporates, Listed Companies, NGOs, Banks and NBFIs, Public Sector Entities, and SMEs. The significant component of Corporate Governance heavi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

AIS: the key tool for good management

Sheikh Tareq Zahir
Published :
Jun 11, 2025 00:49
Updated :
Jun 11, 2025 00:49

Accounting Information System (AIS) of an entity is essentially an Accounting Software. This is the core hub of all the financial data for the Management of Corporates, Listed Companies, NGOs, Banks and NBFIs, Public Sector Entities, and SMEs. The significant component of Corporate Governance heavily relies on the financial controls and reporting to stakeholders. Accordingly, the importance of good AIS has increased manifold in Bangladesh. Particularly, all SMEs are in need of good AIS because of their significant contribution to the business and economy of the country. In Bangladesh, adequate focus is absent to install and run proper AIS. This write-up is an attempt to highlight this issue.

Management is responsible to prepare the financial statements and provide those to the auditors for audit. Obviously, these financial statements are prepared based on the AIS of the entity. Management, either the Board or the sole proprietor himself, analyses financial data for everyday business decisions, and for submission to different stakeholders.

Entrepreneurs know the best about the outlook of their business. They always have their own mental math to run their business and mostly rely on this. Hence, most of them think that they don’t need a proper AIS. However, this mental ‘strength’ fails to save many companies from distress calls due to poorly managed financial information. For example, profit numbers and cash flow numbers are two different scenarios because, among many things, higher sales may not always guarantee higher cash inflows from collections. So, if you ‘think’ that increased sales will show higher profit, you may find that while profit has increased, it may not lead to improved cash position.

Properly prepared financial statements are must for business sustainability. It means those are compliant with International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS). Compliance with these standards, as adopted by different countries, will ensure that the business is preparing and reporting proper financial statements for the entrepreneurs and stakeholders alike.

Without proper AIS, no governance code/policy will work. If the AIS of an entity does not function well, and/or the people cannot run it properly all the above processes become chaotic. On the other hand, in the absence of a good AIS, the senior officials find it difficult against a proper audit because they struggle to provide information and documents in due time. You cannot apply IFRS if you don’t have a proper AIS to do this. So, this is of paramount importance that entities install and run a well-designed AIS.

There’s a plethora of writings on the importance of a proper set of financial statements. But adequate emphasis is not given on the importance of managing the core financial information hub. In Bangladesh, the reason behind this is primarily from the demand side of it.

Entrepreneurs lack the understanding and/or bother less about implementing a proper AIS. Also, many of them try to avoid a good AIS because they fear that this will expose them to the Tax and VAT authorities for their Tax and VAT evasions. They feel that it is better to keep books of accounts mostly in manual fashion, so they can manipulate their records to evade Tax and VAT.

Most SMEs demand for the cheap and popular off-the shelf software without much work-around to suit their needs. But they find later that this does not serve their purposes. This leads to a bad implementation and wastage of money and efforts, because more often than not, the weak (but cheap) software gives very low extent of information support. So they don’t feel the necessity of it. This is somewhat similar for some RMG Companies.

Another case of RMG companies is that the entrepreneurs invest crores of taka behind ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software. Few months down the line, they find that they have selected the software that does not match with their operations and expectations.

The other side of the gamut is that entities that choose the right software, fail to assess that they actually have low calibre people to run a good system. So either the implementation or the subsequent operation of the system fails. Then they try to justify and practice of keeping manual books over a good AIS. This is a common case for RMG companies.

SMEs in Bangladesh have a significant role in the economy. Experts now estimate that there are over 10 million SMEs in Bangladesh and they currently contribute 30-32 per cent to the GDP. Over 24 million people are employed in this sector. Bangladesh Bank has mandated that all banks allocate 25 percent of their total loan disbursement to CSMEs by December 2024, and banks are diligently adhering to this directive (Note)*. Naturally, the SMEs will be soon required to prepare and submit their financial statements to various authorities. So, it is extremely important that these SMEs have good AIS. But from the experience as a practicing accountant, this was observed that these business enterprises have weak AIS, if at all, both with the software and the quality of people running it.

Auditors must review the adequacy of the AIS as part of their review of the internal Control System of a client to conclude on the extent they would rely on it. Their subsequent audit works will heavily rely on this assessment. If they find that the AIS is faulty, this means that the source of information is faulty as well. So, they must become more alert that there are now higher likelihood of errors and frauds in the financial statements. This will help them do a quality audit.

Auditors must be aware that when the client submits information on a spreadsheet, this does not necessarily mean that those came directly from the AIS without errors – some manual intervention can always take place on spreadsheets. So, this becomes imperative for them to take a ‘read-only’ access into the AIS of the client and review the audit trails, the extent of manual book entries, and the access level controls in the AIS. This shows client’s governance strength over business-critical information. This basic audit approach, of course, does not mean that the audit team members must be highly trained in IT. The fundamental understanding of AIS governance with proper training will do the job.

So what can we do about this?

From a project management perspective, it was observed that many brilliant business graduates struggle in either implementing or in operating a good AIS, although they have studied many courses. Educational institutes that impart business studies should enhance their existing courses, so that they can train the students on how to design and run AIS. The real world works around a good AIS, so, if this is not properly handled, the other discussions around business become futile. This will help them build up a good idea that the core of good governance lies with reliable financial data from a good AIS.

Both ICAB and ICMAB should hold awareness sessions with different trade bodies and other stakeholders. Entrepreneurs will become aware of the importance of proper AIS. All stakeholders will also get quick and accurate data for their purpose against specific demands. So this is a win-win situation.

There must be more rigorous hands-on training sessions for accounting professionals in the country. These trainings should focus on implementation of good AIS. Auditors must be trained so they can understand and question the design and operation of AIS. They can, thus, do a quality audit. Both the ICAB and ICMAB can collaborate with international software companies so they can achieve the training efficacies. The software Companies will be interested to lend a hand in view of their business expansions.

Sheikh Tareq Zahir FCA is a Partner at Ahmed Sheikh Roy & Co., Chartered Accountants.​

 

[Saif]

The dire need of curbing cyber attacks

Currently consensus has emerged all over the world about the need for coordinated and serious attention towards responding to cyber-attacks. Malicious cyber activities have become a growing threat. Cyber-attacks are posing a number of challenges, both technical and political. Many countries are al

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

The dire need of curbing cyber attacks

Muhammad Zamir
Published :
Jun 23, 2025 00:56
Updated :
Jun 23, 2025 00:56

Currently consensus has emerged all over the world about the need for coordinated and serious attention towards responding to cyber-attacks. Malicious cyber activities have become a growing threat.

Cyber-attacks are posing a number of challenges, both technical and political. Many countries are also discovering that they lack the required cyber and intelligence capabilities, and the political and administrative processes necessary to properly address cyber-attacks. In addition, it is apparent that in some regions, like the European Union or Southeast Asia, some decisions will require collective action and unanimity. For this to happen, the first step will have to be towards upgrading of information sharing and the creation of what is now popularly known as the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox.

There is now general consensus all over North America and also Australia and the countries of the Far East that all countries who are slowly moving into the digital paradigm need to take necessary strengthening of cyber capabilities, both defensive and offensive. It is also understood that such measures will require investment not only in human and technical capacities but also in the creation and updating of internal procedures. This step will enable personnel involved with cyber security to be also associated with the political decision-making process. This requirement will be very sensitive and challenging. However, every country in question will have to take these steps before attributing cyber-attacks or adopting subsequent action in the form of possible sanction against the institution or country in question. The possibility of use of sanctions will also have to be wielded carefully, based on strong compelling evidence. Mere allegation or indictment might not help.

Strategists, in this regard, have also highlighted that cooperation with the private sector and with international partners need to be pursued.

It has been pointed out by political analysts in this regard that the EU will not face several constraints after Brexit comes into full operation. Both the EU and Britain have been mentioning about continued subsequent cooperation in many areas of national governance. However, till today, it is very vague whether such cooperation will tackle the question of cyber security in all its dimensions. Both parties need to realise that they will need to set up enhanced paradigms of cyber security cooperation and also further develop EU-NATO cooperation within this dimension.

It needs to be noted here that geo-political tensions currently existing in several socio-economic political arenas-- between Russia and the European Union, USA and Russia, USA and China, India and China, USA and Iran, North Korea and a few adjacent countries and also between some other countries in the Middle East-- are creating their own repercussions and anxiety.

It is consequently being suggested that the post-pandemic world will need to seriously consider investment in confidence building measures, in the creation of norms at the UN level. In addition, there is also a need to convene global, regional and bilateral cyber dialogues pertaining to the identifying of least common denominators regarding cyberspace.

This format needs to be pursued because of attributing cyber-attacks to, or adopting sanctions on another country or an institution can potentially worsen relations with the other party.

It needs to be remembered that acting together would permit countries to be more credible. It will also help send a stronger deterrent message. By responding to cyber threats as a united actor, countries will be better placed to defend their security, their political and economic interests. It will also further augment their credibility as international actors.

We might not like it, but the breakdown of cyber security has begun to affect the proper functioning of several areas of functioning in many countries. This has been apparent all over the world, including several sub-regions in South Asia. In some cases, we have noticed malicious cyber hacking leading to hospitals being forced to cancel their operations, factories temporarily shutting down and global companies being put off-line by some of their competitors. This has led to affected institutions incurring huge losses.

Digital hacking through cyberspace is not constrained because of geographical borders. It can, and does, compromise ICT systems and can result in massive damage.

Cyber security incidents have become a daily occurrence. In this context one needs to recall the osmotic effect of the two massive global cyber-attacks in 2017 that affected Europe as well as several other international institutions and infrastructures.

The WannaCry ransom ware attack in May 2017 quickly spread around the world, encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in the crypto currency-bitcoin. It was subsequently estimated that it possibly affected more than 300,000 computers across 150 countries, causing between US Dollar 4 to 8 billion worth of damages. Carmakers Renault, Nissan and Honda were severely affected by the attack and were forced to reduce and in some cases even stop production at a number of production sites in France, the United Kingdom, Romania, Slovenia, Japan, and India. The attack, most unfortunately, also affected the national healthcare system (NT-IS) in the UK. This had a severe effect on hospitals with doctors not able to access patient data. It was most felt by many in need of surgical interventions.

In addition, as reported in the international media, many pharmaceutical companies including internationally reputed Merck & Co., one of the largest in the world, had to shut down production of one of its pediatric vaccines. It may be mentioned here that according to a White House assessment, the WannaCry and Not Petya cyber-attack created damages amounting to more than US Dollar 10 billion. Some have, however, disputed this figure as being limited as it did not take into consideration what happened in many developing countries.

Recognising the reality of the threat, the EU and its member states have worked over the past few years to strengthen cyber security in Europe and tackle cyber-attacks against infrastructures, cyber espionage, intellectual property theft, and hybrid threats using cyber means. The Union has primarily invested in increased prevention, early warning mechanisms, resilience and coordination.

It would be worthwhile at this point to draw attention to recent efforts by the EU to try and lay down a fundamental guideline pertaining to an efficient pro-cyber framework strategy. These efforts on their part need to be carefully studied by others.

There was at first the 2013 EU Cyber security Strategy. It was followed by the 2016 Network and information Security (NIS) Directive and subsequently the 2016 Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats. Certain aspects of these measures are being already replicated elsewhere. This includes countries setting up national Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) and a competent national NIS authority. This is being done to facilitate strategic cooperation and exchange of information about ongoing threats and cooperating on potential cyber security incidents.

One needs to hardly reiterate that these steps will greatly help post-pandemic and post-Brexit Europe which will rely greatly on digital marketing and e-commerce. One hopes that Bangladesh will also move forward in this direction.

We should also consider working together on this issue within South Asia. This will help all of us to move forward together. Our economic front in particular has many obstacles. As such, it would be useful for all of us to make a serious examination about what the Netherlands proposed during its 2016 Presidency of the EU Council. Their comment on this issue, initially controversial, has subsequently gained appreciation.

Similarly, in South Asia, there are divergent opinions on practically most issues. Creating cyber security will consequently not be very easy. Nevertheless, today, after the emergence of the pandemic, everyone in South Asia, instead of blaming each other, need to respond to the scope, scale, duration, intensity, complexity, sophistication and impact of every country's cyber activity.

These procedures that are being adopted in other regions of the world should be studied very carefully by the Information Technology sector in Bangladesh. A Committee could be constituted with the direct and indirect participation of the private sector, different financial institutions and Chambers of Commerce. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs can also be a part of this matrix. There should not be any politicisation of this process. If necessary, we could also seek counseling of representatives from Japan, Australia, European Union, the USA and Canada.

One firmly believes that we need to achieve cyber resilience.

Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador and a former Chief Information Commissioner, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.​

 

[Saif]

Internet service providers demand govt protection

Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh on Saturday placed a seven-point demand to ensure the protection of local entrepreneurs, including setting a floor price for internet services...

www.newagebd.net

Internet service providers demand govt protection
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 28 June, 2025, 23:22

Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh on Saturday placed a seven-point demand to ensure the protection of local entrepreneurs, including setting a floor price for internet services.

The demands were presented at a workshop titled ‘Draft Telecom Policy and Challenges of the ISP Industry’, organised by Telecom Reporters’ Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at RAOWA Club in the capital’s Mohakhali area on Saturday.

At the event, ISPAB placed demands of Introducing both floor and ceiling prices for internet services, setting the minimum package price at Tk 800 for 50 Mbps internet speed, implementing active network sharing which will improve service quality and significantly help reduce internet costs, ensuring last-mile connectivity remains under ISP control, reducing the NTTN (Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network) service charges to a single-digit percentage, eliminating Social Obligation Fund (SOF) and revenue sharing system, and ensuring the protection of local entrepreneurs.

ISPAB president Aminul Hakim, secretary general Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan, former president Abdus Salam, and Emdadul Haque spoke at the workshop, while Mobarak Hossain presented the overall ISPAB proposal.

Aminul Hakim said, ‘The proposed draft Telecom Policy has created the biggest policy crisis in the last 27 years, which is self-contradictory. Providing the best internet service at the lowest price is unrealistic. This has become part of cheap politics. If the government does not offer concessions, private companies will not be able to reduce internet prices.’

He said the government collected around 60 per cent of taxes and revenue from the ISP sector, and under such circumstances, providing high-speed internet at low prices was impossible.

ISPAB Secretary General Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan said, “Due to the absence of active sharing, a huge amount of money is being wasted in the country. To address this, we have already set up a common 1 Gbps cable line in Dhanmondi, through which 77 ISPs are jointly providing high-speed internet services.”​

 

[Saif]

Set Tk 800 as lowest payable for broadband packages

The lowest price payable for a broadband internet connection needs to be Tk 800, not Tk 400 as per a policy drafted recently, said service providers, offering to reciprocate by raising the minimum speed to 50 Mbps..The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided t

www.thedailystar.net

Set Tk 800 as lowest payable for broadband packages
Demand service providers

The lowest price payable for a broadband internet connection needs to be Tk 800, not Tk 400 as per a policy drafted recently, said service providers, offering to reciprocate by raising the minimum speed to 50 Mbps.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to reduce the prices by up to 20 percent starting next month, aiming to make internet more affordable nationwide.

Under the new pricing, a 5 Mbps connection will cost Tk 400 per month, down from Tk 500, which was set in 2021 when the telecom regulator started determining the pricing.

The cost of 10 Mbps packages has been reduced to Tk 700 from Tk 800, and 20 Mbps ones to Tk 1,100 from Tk 1,200.

The price cuts were made possible by reducing transmission and bandwidth import costs, as international bandwidth prices have declined in recent years.

Earlier, for the Tk 500 package, the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) had offered to double the internet speed to 10 Mbps, on condition that the price remain unchanged.

However, the association now demands that the minimum payable for an internet package be Tk 800 and offers 50 Mbps with it.

It also urged dropping 5 Mbps packages, citing concerns over service quality.

"We constantly face questions about the quality of service. If I have to reduce response time, I need to hire more call centre agents. I also need to ensure instant physical support by deploying engineers," said ISPAB President Aminul Hakim.

"Our average revenue per user is around Tk 550. So, we won't be able to deliver proper service if the minimum package price is set at Tk 400," he said.

There should be both floor and ceiling prices for broadband internet. "If mobile operators have a floor price, then our industry should also have one," he added. Currently, only ceiling prices exist for broadband services.

Moreover, the ISPAB wants to increase the minimum broadband download speed to 50 Mbps, even though the draft broadband policy set it at 20 Mbps.

Hakim made the remarks at a workshop and media briefing titled "Draft Telecom Policy Report: Challenges of the ISP Industry," at the RAOWA Complex in Dhaka yesterday.

The ISPAB also called for permission to enable active network sharing.

"If we receive policy approval for active sharing, we can minimise downtime, reduce unnecessary cabling, and ensure 1 Gbps connectivity for every customer," Hakim said.

He emphasised that last-mile wired connectivity should be exclusively provided by internet service providers (ISPs), and this should be clearly stated in the upcoming telecom licensing policy.

Hakim also demanded the cancellation of the social obligation fund and provisions for sharing revenue with the BTRC.

"Social obligations are the responsibility of the government, which already collects VAT, income tax, and corporate tax from companies. These funds should be used to meet such obligations," he said.

"As for revenue sharing, without making any investment, the government becomes our business partner. This is absolutely unacceptable," he added.

He urged the government to safeguard the interests of local entrepreneurs in the upcoming telecom licensing framework.

Mubarak Hossain, CEO of PLEXUS Cloud Ltd, also spoke at the event.​

 

[Saif]

Internet package worth Tk 700 to be available for minimum Tk 500

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has announced a reduction in the price of fixed internet packages, with a Tk 700 package now being offered for a minimum of Tk 500. The new decision will cme into effect from Tuesday (July 1), UNB reports. Currently, ISPs acro

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Internet package worth Tk 700 to be available for minimum Tk 500

Published :
Jul 01, 2025 22:18
Updated :
Jul 01, 2025 22:18

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has announced a reduction in the price of fixed internet packages, with a Tk 700 package now being offered for a minimum of Tk 500.

The new decision will cme into effect from Tuesday (July 1), UNB reports.

Currently, ISPs across the country — whether local, district-based, regional, or nationwide — do not offer packages with speeds as low as 5 Mbps. Most ISPs provide an average of 10 Mbps bandwidth.

In line with this, ISPAB has decided to offer fixed internet packages starting from Tk 500.

Contacted, ISPAB President Aminul Hakim said that Bangladesh is ranked 98th among 153 countries in the Speedtest Global Index for fixed broadband services.

ISPAB is keen to improve the country’s position in that ranking, he said.

To that end, ISPs are now beginning with 10 Mbps as the minimum standard.

Hakim further stated that if the government withdraws the Social Obligation Fund (SOF) and revenue-sharing requirements, ISPs will be able to provide 20 Mbps bandwidth in line with the global definition of broadband.

Efforts are underway to achieve this goal, he added.

He also noted that most customers are reluctant to pay the 5% value-added tax (VAT) included in their monthly bills, making it difficult for ISPs to collect.

To address this, ISPAB members have agreed to collect the 5% VAT from customers and deposit it into the national treasury as part of a joint effort with the government to support national development.

ISPAB has urged all customers to subscribe to internet connections only from licensed ISPs, pay the 5% VAT as per government regulations, and request a payment receipt with their monthly bill as proof of payment.​

 

[Saif]

IGW cartel plunders whopping Tk 80b

A politically pampered powerful nexus of international gateway (IGW) operators looted over Tk 80 billion or Tk 8,000 crore from the ICT sector over the past nine years, ministry high-ups said Monday. "At the core of the scandal lies the IGW Operators Forum (IOF), a cartel of seven IGW operators

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

CA SPECIAL ASST DISPELS GRAFT CHARGE
IGW cartel whopping Tk 80b
Official disclosure blames IOF as kingpin

FE REPORT
Published :
Jul 08, 2025 00:07
Updated :
Jul 08, 2025 00:07

A politically pampered powerful nexus of international gateway (IGW) operators looted over Tk 80 billion or Tk 8,000 crore from the ICT sector over the past nine years, ministry high-ups said Monday.

"At the core of the scandal lies the IGW Operators Forum (IOF), a cartel of seven IGW operators allegedly led by former prime ministerial adviser Salman F Rahman," said Fayez Ahmad Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of the post-uprising government.

Formed in 2013, the IOF monopolised international call termination through a so-called "pilot phase" that suspiciously lasted over 12 years. During this period, mobile operators were barred from directly handling international calls, handing over control -- and profits -- to the Forum.

Although the IOF charged up to $0.03 per minute, they declared revenue of only $0.006. By 2024, the actual market rate had dropped to just $0.001, yet IOF continued to underreport income at $0.0004 per minute, as stated in the findings.

"According to BTRC estimates, this manipulation cost the government over Tk 8,000 crore in lost revenue -- money pocketed by the cartel," Mr Tayyab told a media briefing in Dhaka.

Similarly, Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and other toll-based operators, many of whom invested less than Tk 100 million, extracted billions with little or no contribution to telecom infrastructure. These entities acted as middlemen, adding layers of cost while providing minimal value.

As unveiled, ICX operators, for example, earned Tk 3.0-4.0 billion and Tk 6.31 billion was collected through Market Development Fees (MDF) under the IOF mechanism -- 95 per cent of which reportedly passed through Beximco Computers, further raising conflict-of-interest concerns, the Special Assistant told reporters.

Allegations run further that the roots of this systemic corruption trace back to the 2010 ILDTS (International Long-Distance Telecommunications Services) policy, crafted under the Awami League government.

This policy aggressively curtailed the role of mobile-network operators and instead granted licences to politically linked firms across 29 categories, including IGW, ICX, IOF, NIX, and IIG.

By 2024, BTRC had issued a staggering 3,573 licences-most of them to loyalists to the ruling regime.

"These companies operated as toll collectors, not service providers," a BTRC official told reporters.

"They added no value to customers but walked away with massive profits. This has created a warped, anti-competitive ecosystem."

Despite mounting pressure from international regulatory bodies such as the ITU and GSMA since 2015, the Awami League government had turned a blind eye to demands for simplifying and modernizing the telecom-licensing framework, ICT ministry officials said.

The Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on telecoms affairs brushed aside the allegations of corruption raised against him and the ministry in a section of media.

Mr Tayyab stated that the project centering which the allegations were raised is being carried out with total transparency.

He said the project, undertaken by the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) was launched to expand its capacity and network and an LC worth TK2900 million was already opened for equipment purchase.

For BTCL, he said, the network upgrading is crucial as its competitors are enhancing their capacities in a huge way to cater the future demand.

About his reported letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission he said. "I have written to the ACC Chairman that if the project is not implemented, the government would not only lose TK 6000 million, the BTCL will also be out of the market for its poor capacity and network."

He mentions that the equipment is being supplied by the lowest bidders and the specifications are being certified by BUET experts.

According to the Special Assistant, the telecoms syndicate which plundered the sector during the previous regime is spreading propaganda against him and the ministry in a bid to malign him.

"I condemn this ill effort and I want to make it clear that the present government has the moral strength to carry on the reform in this sector to dismantle the syndicate, which illegally plundered public money with the backing of the past fascist regime," he told the press.

He said the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 paved the way for a wave of reforms under the interim administration. BTRC, in coordination with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, is now in the final stages of introducing "Telecom Network and Licensing Reform Policy 2025".

The cleanup recipe aims to dismantle redundant layers such as ICX and IOF, simplify the licensing regime into a three-tier structure, promote SME-and ISP-friendly licensing with light-touch regulation, cap foreign ownership (49 per cent international, 55-60 per cent national), to liberalise fiber infrastructure and remove 'monopolies' and to reduce intermediaries from 6-7 to just 3 layers.

BTRC has also imposed stringent conditions on defaulting licence- holders. These include bans on share transfers, changes in ownership, company-name alterations, and licence renewals unless 50 per cent of outstanding dues are paid upfront, with the rest to be cleared within 6-12 months.

The regulator has already announced that ICX and IGW licences set to expire in 2027 will not be renewed, signalling the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh's telecoms sector, he said.

"Unsurprisingly, these reforms have met resistance. The beneficiaries of the old regime are actively trying to block reforms," said a telecom- policy analyst. "They've formed syndicates to protect their interests and prevent new entrants from entering the market."

He pointed out that critics of the reform -- "many unknowingly aligned with corrupt legacy operators" -- have questioned the government's aggressive moves. But BTRC remains firm that the licensing overhaul is essential for democratising the telecoms landscape.

"One of the most direct consequences of the syndicate-run telecom regime has been inflated costs for consumers. For example, ICX operators added an unnecessary 5 paisa per minute to domestic call charges-money that could have been saved or reinvested in infrastructure."

The upcoming policy intends to pass these savings on to end-users by reducing toll costs, promoting competition, and encouraging direct international connectivity by mobile operators, he added about the cleansing of the telecoms sector, widely considered a money-spinner.

The reform process will be anchored by three strategic pillars: a new Telecom Policy, a revised Telecom Act, and a comprehensive Quality of Service Framework.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Authority or BTRC has also launched public complaint channels such as the Telecom White Paper and the ICT White Paper Committee, where stakeholders can report irregularities in recruitment, licence transfers, and corruption, the Special Assistant stated.​

 

[Saif]

Govt plans ‘fibre optic bank’ to use idle networks

The government has decided to establish a national “fibre optic bank”, which will bring all unused fibre optic resources from state-owned entities under a single platform in a bid to accelerate digital transformation.

www.thedailystar.net

Govt plans ‘fibre optic bank’ to use idle networks

The government has decided to establish a national "fibre optic bank", which will bring all unused fibre optic resources from state-owned entities under a single platform in a bid to accelerate digital transformation.

The telecom and ICT divisions have officially invited Bangladesh Railway and the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) to join this fibre-sharing consortium, alongside Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) and Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC).

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser with executive authority over the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, recently sent a letter to Railways and Power Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, outlining the government's vision for this initiative and urging participation.

40% OF PUBLIC FIBRE NETWORKS REMAIN UNUSED

The letter, seen by The Daily Star, states that over the past decade, different government agencies have installed thousands of kilometres of optical fibre—much of which remains underutilised or completely idle.

The letter notes that, in total, BTCL, PGCB, Railway, and BCC own 78,400 kilometres (km) of fibre network. Of this, an estimated 40 percent remains unused.

"We are wasting a vital national asset by leaving large portions of optical fibre unused. It's time we came together and built a centrally managed, transparent, and efficient fibre ecosystem for all," Taiyeb said.

He also said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has verbally endorsed the plan, enabling the Posts and Telecom Division to formally invite PGCB and Bangladesh Railway to the consortium.

"This is not just about connectivity. It's about bringing digital transformation where every union has high-speed access and every public resource is optimally used," he added.

Taiyeb's letter to Adviser Fouzul details that BTCL possesses a fibre network stretching over 39,500 km, 90 percent of which is underground.

BCC, on the other hand, has deployed 27,695 km of fibre under the InfoSarkar-3 project, which aims to expand high-speed internet access to rural areas covering 2,600 unions, with work ongoing for an additional 7,000 km expansion.

Meanwhile, PGCB has around 8,000 km of fibre along the power grid, a large portion of which remains unused. In addition, Bangladesh Railway owns 3,205 km of fibre lines, a significant part of which remains unused.

In his letter to the Ministry of Railways, Taiyeb states that leasing out the idle fibre networks could generate more than Tk 500 crore annually

Bringing fibre from the InfoSarkar-3 project, however, may not turn out to be that smooth, as the government inked a deal in 2023 with Summit Communications and Fibre@Home for maintenance, upgradation, replacement, and operation of the project.

The two private companies receive 90 percent of the revenue under the agreement. The ICT Division has recently sought to amend the deals.

Taiyeb, in the letter, said the lack of interconnectivity among these networks, combined with restrictive policies under the previous government, prevented entities like PGCB and Railway from offering last-mile connectivity to telecom operators—causing massive underutilisation of national assets.

The proposed national fibre bank aims to fix these issues by unifying the fibre networks of all four agencies into a single, centrally coordinated platform.

MORE REVENUE, FASTER INTERNET

In his letter to the Ministry of Railways, Taiyeb states that leasing out the idle fibre networks could generate more than Tk 500 crore annually.

Joint network maintenance under BTCL's experienced operations could reduce operating expenses by up to 30 percent.

Bandwidth cost from private NTTN operators is likely to fall from Tk 18,000 per Gbps to as low as Tk 5,000—a potential 70 percent reduction.

Besides, the letter states that only 25 percent of mobile towers are currently fibre-connected.

With an integrated backbone, this can reach 100 percent, allowing a low-cost, nationwide 5G rollout.

The overlapping paths of BTCL, PGCB, and Railway fibre also provide high redundancy, essential during natural disasters.

The initiative could enable 1 Gbps or higher internet speeds in every union by integrating existing Points of Presence (POPs) from BTCL (1,200 unions), BCC (2,600 unions), PGCB, and Railway.

The proposed national fibre bank would provide reliable, scalable access to telco-grade fibre—essential for services like IoT, telemedicine, distance education, and smart city development.

As per Taiyeb's letter, the proposed fibre bank will include a GIS-based real-time inventory system, identifying the location, core count, and status of each fibre line.

This will ensure transparency in leasing and allow selective, need-based access—for instance, during emergency government communications.

The letter also proposes an inter-ministerial meeting, involving Bangladesh Railway, PGCB, BTCL, BCC, and other stakeholders, to finalise the integration strategy and operational guidelines.

Companies that will lease fibre from the upcoming national fibre bank will be able to generate revenue from it. The earnings will be distributed among the government-owned companies, the telecom regulator, and the maintenance partners, Taiyeb said.

"For example, if Summit Communications and Fiber@Home are involved in maintenance, they will also receive a share of the revenue," he added.

LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD

In the letter, Taiyeb criticises the previous Awami League-led government for restricting state fibre owners from servicing telecom demand beyond their grid or track.

Such policies reportedly benefited certain politically connected private firms at the cost of public efficiency, the letter states.

The proposed fibre bank aims to level the playing field and put state-owned fibre assets to commercial and social use, within a regulatory framework that ensures transparency, competition, and affordability.

Fahim Mashroor, former president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), welcomed the move, saying it would benefit users by enabling faster and more affordable internet access.

"Particularly, if this initiative can ensure low-cost internet in remote areas, it will not only benefit consumers but also significantly boost Bangladesh's digital economy," he added.​

 

[Saif]

SpaceX VP Lauren Dreyer praises Bangladesh’s efficiency in facilitating Starlink launch

The Vice President of SpaceX, Lauren Dreyer, has commended the coordinated efforts of government officials in Bangladesh for supporting the effective launching of Starlink in the country. She made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jam

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

SpaceX VP Lauren Dreyer praises Bangladesh’s efficiency in facilitating Starlink launch

Published :
Jul 18, 2025 18:06
Updated :
Jul 18, 2025 18:06

The Vice President of SpaceX, Lauren Dreyer, has commended the coordinated efforts of government officials in Bangladesh for supporting the effective launching of Starlink in the country.

She made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Friday, reports BSS.

“We operate in 150 countries and territories. We have never seen such efficiency and decisiveness. On behalf of all my colleagues at SpaceX, I extend our appreciation to you. We look forward to working closely with your team,” she said.

Chief Adviser thanked the Vice President for visiting Bangladesh. “It’s a lovely time of year here, the monsoon season. Greenery and water everywhere. At the same time, we face challenges of flooding and waterlogging, which highlight the need for dependable technology to maintain connectivity.”

“There is also a pressing need for improved connectivity in the remote areas of our hill tracts. These regions lack proper schools, teachers, and doctors. We have set a target to introduce online education in 100 schools, which will benefit students in isolated areas,” he said.

Emphasising inclusive healthcare, the Chief Adviser said, “We are prioritising digital healthcare so that people in remote areas can consult doctors online. Their medical histories will be stored digitally, making future consultations easier.

“This is particularly important during pregnancy, a time when women often need male assistance to visit a doctor. With digital services, they can consult doctors from home,” he said.

“Bangladeshi expatriates will also benefit from digital health services. Many hesitate to consult doctors abroad due to language barriers. With this system, they will be able to consult Bangladeshi doctors from overseas. We are implementing small initiatives here, but you can take these projects global,’ he said.

Lauren Dreyer expressed her appreciation for Professor Yunus’s insights. “The example you are setting here can be shared with other leaders. If Professor Yunus can do it in his country, then others can as well,” she said.

She also commended Professor Yunus’s efforts in combating corruption.

“Your initiatives to ensure that public services reach the people are highly commendable. A significant part of my work involves travelling around the world. I understand how serious an issue corruption can be. Using technology to decentralize services and improve governance is a meaningful vision,” she said.

Richard Griffiths, Global Engagement Consultant of SpaceX; National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman; Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb; and Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, were also present at the meeting.​