Tk29 lakh sought for telecom policy roadmap research

The committee under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has proposed a budget of Tk 29 lakh to conduct research for formulating a roadmap to restructure the telecom network and licensing regime.

According to BTRC, the research team includes 15 local and six international experts. The commission claims that comprehensive research of this scale requires adequate funding to ensure its quality and impact.

To this end, the BTRC’s Commissioner (Engineering and Operations) has requested the allocation of the amount. The proposed expenditure breakdown includes Tk 10 lakh for committee members engaged as researchers, Tk 12 lakh for invited experts, Tk 600,000 for workshops, and Tk 1 lakh for logistics and materials.

However, the commission has yet to approve the proposed budget.

When asked about the matter, BTRC Chairman Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari (Retd) said the allocation proposal needs further review and detailed scrutiny before being resubmitted.

“This is based on an old approval. BTRC has a research fund that often remains underutilized. We’ve engaged academics and researchers in this reform committee, and they’ve drafted policy proposals,” he added.

Senior members of the committee emphasized that this research is crucial for making the telecom sector future-ready, technologically competent, and economically sustainable. They argue that financing from BTRC’s Research and Development Fund is justified, as the study directly contributes to policy formulation and structural reform.

The aim of the research is to recommend a modern telecom framework and licensing regime aligned with global trends and local realities. The proposed reforms are expected to facilitate efficient network management, attract investment, foster technological innovation, and ensure consumer-friendly services.