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
Mobile users suffer as towers go down in Sylhet
Panic and uncertainty have gripped the relatives of people living in flood-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj as they are unable to communicate with their loved ones due to an electricity blackout that has put about half of the local mobile network towers out of commission.
21 June 2022, 05:50 AM
Bangladeshi individuals, Banks: Deposits with Swiss banks rise 55pc
Funds deposited by Bangladeshi citizens and banks with different Swiss banks witnessed a massive rise of 55 percent to 871 million Swiss francs (CHF), about Tk 8,266 crore, in 2021 compared to the previous year.
16 June 2022, 18:00 PM
e-CAB members to vote after 7yrs
Seven years past its formation, the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) is on way to let its 795 voters elect its executive council for the first time.
16 June 2022, 03:30 AM
Telcos fined Tk 7.65cr for illegal VoIP
The telecom regulator has recently fined four mobile network operators Tk 7.65 crore as their SIMs were found with equipment confiscated for the use of illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
13 June 2022, 04:00 AM
GP, Robi, Banglalink, Teletalk fined Tk 7.65 crore for illegal VoIP
The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) fined state-run Teletalk Tk 5 crore, Robi Axiata Tk 2 crore, Grameenphone Tk 50 lakh and Banglalink Tk 15 lakh.
12 June 2022, 13:24 PM
Broadband, smartphones, laptops to cost more
With prices of mobile phones and broadband internet set to go up in the next fiscal year, the proposed budget would not be favourable to further development of the ICT sector, experts have said.
9 June 2022, 18:00 PM
Tech giants must submit income tax returns
Tech giants such as Google or Meta (Facebook) will have to submit income tax returns from next fiscal year.
9 June 2022, 10:49 AM
Turnover tax for start-ups to be slashed
The government today proposed cutting the turnover tax for start-ups to 0.1 per cent from the current 0.6 per cent in the next fiscal year.
9 June 2022, 10:33 AM
Mobile handsets to be costlier
The price of the handsets will go up as the government today proposed 5 percent value-added tax on mobile handset sales.
9 June 2022, 09:29 AM
Shanta Lifestyle to offer one-stop interior solution
People often get confused about how they will design their homes to embody an aesthetically pleasing environment and where they will find items of brands they desire.
9 June 2022, 05:00 AM
New VAT likely for handsets, internet
The government is likely to hike value-added tax (VAT) on broadband internet and impose a 5 per cent VAT on handsets manufacturing in the upcoming budget, which will increase handset and internet prices from next fiscal year.
7 June 2022, 03:30 AM
Mercantile Bank puts sustainability at heart for growth
Mercantile Bank Ltd has targeted sustainable long-term business growth as part of its plans to become the top financial institution in Bangladesh in terms of sustainability, said its top executive.
3 June 2022, 06:00 AM
Mobile subscribers up in April, internet users drop
The number of mobile network subscribers in Bangladesh rose for three consecutive months to reach an all-time high in April while internet usage slipped that same month.
31 May 2022, 06:30 AM
Govt, BB steps well-timed
Bangladesh’s recent austerity and regulatory measures aimed at curbing non-essential imports, suspending the implementation of projects with high import components and cancelling the foreign tours of officials will send a positive signal to the market and the economy, according to economists.
27 May 2022, 09:00 AM
48% mobile phone customers in Bangladesh have a smartphone
Smartphone penetration in Bangladesh is fast approaching 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies to work, study and find entertainment using smart devices.
25 May 2022, 03:00 AM
Foodpanda looks to tap growth opportunities
When the coronavirus pandemic hit Bangladesh in 2020, food delivery platform foodpanda accelerated its expansion to establish its footprint across the country as demand rose.
24 May 2022, 04:30 AM
Job postings online skyrocketing
Online job postings have continued to be made in large numbers in the past eight months since September last year, sometimes even surpassing pre-pandemic levels, seeking manpower in garments, marketing, IT and logistics as fears over the virus subsided.
19 May 2022, 03:30 AM
Govt to open up submarine cable business to private firms
Private companies in Bangladesh are set to get licences to establish, maintain and operate submarine cables, in a shift that will break the state monopoly and pave the way for a smooth supply of bandwidth amid a surge in internet use.
11 May 2022, 18:00 PM
Internet users rise in March
The number of internet users in Bangladesh rose in March thanks to increased usage of both mobile data and broadband services for educational, entertainment and professional purposes amid the improving Covid-19 situation.
8 May 2022, 18:00 PM
Eid boosts battered tourism: Hotels doing brisk business
Hotels and resorts in tourist destinations across Bangladesh are enjoying brisk business thanks to the long holiday afforded by most industries in the current festival season centring Eid-ul-Fitr as they look to partially recover pandemic-induced losses.
7 May 2022, 18:00 PM