Draft telecom policy keeps door open for monopoly
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) draft policy to reform its complex licensing regime arrives with bold promises — streamlining processes, encouraging competition, and attracting foreign investment.
14 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt’s bank borrowing target may shrink in next budget
The government is planning to significantly reduce its bank borrowing target in the upcoming fiscal year as it aims to narrow the budget deficit by scaling down the overall budget size.
13 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Starlink gets 90-day waiver to operate without local gateway
The internet regulator in Bangladesh has granted Starlink permission to supply bandwidth from outside the country for 90 days.
12 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Budget to shrink amid fiscal strain
Bangladesh’s interim government is preparing to unveil a rare contractionary budget on June 2, driven by a sharp rise in interest payment that is crowding out fiscal space and forcing spending cuts.
10 May 2025, 18:00 PM
BBS finally empowered to publish data independently
As part of policy reforms aimed at improving the credibility and accuracy of national statistics, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has been empowered to publish official data without prior government approval.
8 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Local handset production drops as grey market expands
Handset production in Bangladesh declined significantly in the first quarter of 2025 as the grey market continued to dominate the domestic market.
29 April 2025, 18:00 PM
BTRC to ask Banglalink to pay at least Tk 70cr in tower sale fees
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to issue a final directive to Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, asking the mobile operator to deposit 5.5 percent of the total value of its tower sales, along with all applicable VAT and late fees, to Summit Towers Limited within ten working days.
28 April 2025, 18:00 PM
BTRC approves licence for Starlink
This is the swiftest recommendation from the BTRC for any such licence, according to a BTRC official.
27 April 2025, 18:00 PM
Landline use down drastically
The number of public switched telephone network (PSTN) users has decreased over the past decade, falling below half a million as mobile phones have become ubiquitous while landline operators failed to expand network coverage.
20 April 2023, 02:30 AM
Eid shopping hits full steam
It was 11.45 pm on Tuesday. Shopping malls and markets usually remain shut at this hour of the day. But, the bustling shopping district for clothing and lifestyle items in the Mirpur-1 area was abuzz with shoppers.
20 April 2023, 02:00 AM
Gender gap in mobile money use still wide in Bangladesh
The gender gap in mobile money account ownership is 55 per cent in Bangladesh as mobile ownership among men is growing at a faster pace than among women, according to a global report.
19 April 2023, 03:30 AM
4G smartphone production down 61% in Q1
Production of 4G smartphones has plummeted by over 61 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, as import costs have increased for the taka’s depreciation against the dollar.
17 April 2023, 03:00 AM
BTRC asks for spending details from telcos, ISPs
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has directed mobile network operators and internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to provide information on their spending for digital advertisements on different social media platforms last year.
17 April 2023, 02:00 AM
Online courier business rebounds on Eid optimism
A spike in orders during the ongoing Eid shopping season has brought back a bright smile to online courier service providers, a development that is a sigh of relief for the industry that witnessed a downturn in growth over the past one and a half years.
10 April 2023, 18:00 PM
A trailblazer for women in business
A pioneering businesswoman, a champion of women’s entrepreneurship, a mentor and guide -- Rokia Afzal Rahman’s exit from the world has left a trail of bereft loved ones, friends, relatives and admirers.
5 April 2023, 18:00 PM
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.
5 April 2023, 02:00 AM
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.
30 March 2023, 02:00 AM
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.
27 March 2023, 04:00 AM
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.
26 March 2023, 11:15 AM
‘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.
25 March 2023, 18:00 PM
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.
24 March 2023, 08:00 AM
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.
20 March 2023, 03:00 AM
‘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
13 March 2023, 02:30 AM
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.
12 March 2023, 03:30 AM
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.
7 March 2023, 02:00 AM
Banglalink tops the chart in customer acquisition
The mobile subscriber base in Bangladesh saw a slight growth in January this year compared to that a month earlier, with Banglalink continuing to showcase a strong performance in expanding coverage.
5 March 2023, 03:00 AM
Robi Axiata to keep supporting local startups
Robi Axiata Ltd is keen to remain a catalyst for local startups through its digital entrepreneurship programme, r-ventures, as the second-largest operator is optimistic about Bangladeshi talents to solve real-life problems, its chief executive officer said.
2 March 2023, 03:00 AM
BASIS expo stood out for new tech, youths’ optimism
Some youths were experiencing immersive and interactive environments of augmented and virtual reality with headsets, some were amazed to see a simulation that a robot can rescue the people trapped in a collapsed building, while others were competing with each other in virtual tournaments.
28 February 2023, 03:00 AM