Is Microsoft winding down activities in Bangladesh

Most of the officials including the Managing Director (MD) of the multinational software company Microsoft Bangladesh have been fired. As a result, those concerned are afraid that this software giant is winding down its business in Bangladesh like it did in Pakistan.

Several top-level officials of Microsoft Bangladesh have confirmed the matter to Views Bangladesh.

In response to the question whether Microsoft is winding down its business from Bangladesh, Microsoft Bangladesh Managing Director Md. Yousup Faruk said: "Many things are heard. I have also heard many things from the inside. However, the process is still ongoing. It is not clear to me how long it will continue or whether it is being stopped."

When asked about the termination, he said: "These are a culture of global MNCs (multinational companies). These are the restructuring processes of an organization and are always ongoing. It is not only happening here."

Replying to the question would Microsoft stop its operations in Bangladesh as it did in Pakistan a few days ago, he said: "We don't know the details of Pakistan. As we have seen here, there are operational challenges and policy challenges. These are the regular activities of these big MNCs."

Ragarding the question: if Microsoft leaves Bangladesh, it will be a bad news for investors in the country, he said: "Of course, there is no doubt about it. Not just Microsoft, if any MNC leaves Bangladesh today, it will definitely be a bad news for us."

Microsoft entered Bangladesh in 1989 through a partnership with a local company. However, Microsoft's own subsidiary office in Bangladesh officially started its journey in late 2004.

Top officials of Microsoft Bangladesh confirmed that they now have a business of about $25 million in Bangladesh. For the last two years, the Bangladesh office was controlled from the subsidiary office in India. Earlier, this subsidiary was in the Singapore office.