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bank”, using unused cables from state-owned utilities such as the power grid and railways.

About 40 percent of the country’s 78,400km of fibre is unused. Sharing it could reduce internet costs, speed up 5G rollout, and bring fast connections to rural areas.

POWER AND INDEPENDENCE

The government is revising the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001, which strengthened ministerial control in 2010.

The new plan gives the BTRC more autonomy in operational matters such as approving new products or staff promotions, while major decisions, including licence renewals, spectrum allocation, and changes involving state-owned companies, remain under ministerial oversight.

“The intent is to create a checks and balances model,” Taiyeb said, adding that it ensures strategic alignment across ministries.

Experts caution that true independence is limited.

Barrister Fatema Anwar, a lawyer at the Supreme Court, said, “By allowing more freedom only in operational matters while retaining control over major decisions, particularly those involving six state-owned telecom entities, the risk of conflict of interest and political interference persists.”

BTRC Chairman Major Gen (retired) Md Emdad ul Bari said neutrality is a must. “If we continue to treat state-owned and private operators under different standards, we undermine the very rationale for having an independent regulator.”

However, Taiyeb argues that public operators are needed to guarantee coverage in unprofitable areas. “We must protect public interest through these institutions.”

RIGHTS AND BANDWIDTH

The ministry has ordered the removal of laws that allow internet shutdowns, and called for phone and internet surveillance to have more oversight, bringing practices closer to international standards.

It also proposed reforms to the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) to improve accountability, transparency, and judicial supervision.

Support from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus helped bring Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, to Bangladesh.

State-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) now handles 4 terabits per second of international bandwidth, more than double last year’s capacity. The upcoming SEA-ME-WE 6 cable will add 17 terabits per second.

LONG-TERM VISION NEEDED

A review panel, led by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, is currently assessing the draft Telecom Network and Licensing Reform Policy amid protests from local firms wary of foreign dominance.

Telecom analyst Abu Nazam M Tanveer Hossain said reforms must follow a clear sequence. First, the National Telecom Policy should be updated with a 10-20 year vision.

Subsequently, there should be amendments to laws and rules, said Hossain. “Only afterwards, there could be adjustments to rules and licences.”

“Any deviation from this structure leads to inconsistency, reduces investor confidence, and compromises consumer protection,” he said.