Political leaders, experts reject govt’s telecom policy

Prominent political figures and industry experts have rejected the telecom policy formulated during the interim government, saying it undermines domestic investors. They pledged that a future elected government would review all telecom and related policies.

The announcement was made at a roundtable organised by the Telecom Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) in Dhaka on Saturday (November 22).

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the telecom policy is critical for meeting future challenges. “Domestic investors cannot operate under such policies. Any future elected government will review these policies,” he said.

He emphasized that telecom regulations must ensure fair opportunities for both local and foreign entrepreneurs and protect digital security.

Other participants included BNP Advisory Council member Zahir Uddin Swapon, Ganosamhati Andolon coordinator Zonayed Saki, media personalities Abdun Noor Tushar, senior journalists Masud Kamal, Rased Mehedi, Shahed Alam, Fiber @ Home Chairman Moynul Haque Siddiqui, ISPAB President Aminul Hakim, telecom policy researcher Abu Nazm Tanvir Hossain, AIOB member Brigadier General (Retd.) Mostafizur Rahman, and Bahon Limited CEO Rashed Amin.

IT sector expert and Fiber @ Home Deputy Managing Director Sumon Ahmed Sabir delivered the keynote address. The event was chaired by TRNB President Samir Kumar De, with the welcome address given by General Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin.

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized that telecom policies are critical and must be formulated with input from all stakeholders. He noted that over the past 15 years, license allocations in the sector have undermined the independence of the BTRC under the pretext of legal amendments, highlighting the need for significant reforms. He stressed that any changes must protect domestic investment and digital security. “In a sector with such high profits, domestic investors should be able to participate fully. The new telecom policy, aimed at creating the ‘best, fastest, and most secure’ network, must not discriminate between domestic and foreign entrepreneurs,” he said.

He assured domestic entrepreneurs across the telecommunications sector that safeguarding the industry will be the responsibility of the future elected government, which will review all policies, including telecom, currently implemented by the interim government.

Zahir Uddin Swapon, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, stated, “No policy can exist without accountability. Policies must consider both current and future realities, ensuring digital sovereignty and confirming digital security.”

Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, stated that while policies are needed to address future challenges, the current policies risk placing the country’s telecommunications sector in the hands of foreign companies rather than domestic firms. He also noted that several key ports are being handed over to foreigners.

Saki emphasized that policies that limit domestic investment in telecom and threaten the employment of 500,000–700,000 people in the sector are unacceptable and are being rejected.

Prominent media personality Dr. Abdun Noor Tushar stated, “If business discrimination is not addressed, foreign investors will dominate. However, it is essential to preserve business opportunities for domestic entrepreneurs and ensure their independence.”

Journalist Masud Kamal said, "A government without accountability creates the greatest insecurity for the people. This is the current situation in Bangladesh, where no one in the government is answerable. Policies made by the interim government could become a significant burden for the future elected administration."

Journalist Rashed Mehedi stated, “A visionary policy is now needed to help the country keep pace with the rapid transformation of information technology. Without developing our own cloud and digital platforms to manage the growth of AI and IoT, it will be difficult to sustain our data flow capacity.”

“The current policy, however, risks making Bangladesh dependent on foreign companies, putting both national security and revenue collection in the telecom and IT sectors under foreign control,” he added.

Journalist Shahed Alam emphasized rapid technological advancement and the need for policies ensuring domestic entrepreneurs’ interests while attracting foreign investment.

Fiber @ Home Chairman Moynul Haque Siddiqui stated that domestic transmission companies have installed nearly 200,000 kilometers of fiber optic network, bringing internet speeds in remote villages on par with Dhaka. Before this expansion, internet access was limited to a few cities.
The nationwide deployment of fiber networks has made high-speed broadband and mobile internet widely accessible and affordable from urban to rural areas.

However, he warned that the current telecom policy fails to protect the interests of domestic entrepreneurs, while also raising internet prices and threatening employment in the sector.

ISPAB President Aminul Hakim said, “Our ISPs provide services from villages to cities. The sector includes around 2,500 entrepreneurs, with investments totaling Tk 4,500–5,000 crore.” He noted that major political parties had already held a press conference opposing the telecom policy and expressed hope that the government would withdraw it. “Since that has not happened, we expect that if the BNP forms the next government, it will reconsider this harmful policy,” he added.

Telecommunications policy expert Abu Nazm Tanvir Hossain said that no national policy should be made in haste. Policymakers must consider the current situation, future needs, ways to boost domestic investment and capacity, and how to attract necessary foreign investment through appropriate policy measures. He warned that rushing from one policy to another results in policies that are neither sound nor widely acceptable.

Journalist Masud Kamal said, "A government without accountability creates the greatest insecurity for the people. This is the current situation in Bangladesh, where no one in the government is answerable. Policies made by the interim government could become a significant burden for the future elected administration."