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imposed a SIM tax on MNP users, treating a porting request as equivalent to acquiring a new SIM card.

Globally, there is no SIM tax for switching operators as the subscriber retains their unique number.

The situation worsened when the government significantly increased the VAT and supplementary duty to Tk 200 starting in July 2019 for new SIMs.

In July 2024, the VAT and supplementary duty were hiked to Tk 300. As a result, the operators now charge Tk 400 to Tk 465 for porting a number.

In stark contrast, many countries offer MNP either completely free or at a nominal cost, highlighting how Bangladesh’s pricing structure has become a significant deterrent to a service originally designed to empower users.

What handicapped the MNP service further was the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) position on awareness campaigns.

Despite licensing directives that explicitly mandate both the BTRC and mobile operators to educate consumers through print, electronic and digital media, no meaningful campaign has been undertaken to inform the public.

But just a few days after issuing the licence, the regulator banned all promotional activities related to MNP.

This contradictory move not only undermined consumer rights but also stifled competition -- allowing poor service and market complacency to persist unchecked.

The obstacles go beyond awareness or affordability, said Md Mustafa Kamal, chief executive officer of Infozillion, which paid Tk 11.5 crore in 2017 along with a Tk 10 crore bank guarantee to obtain the MNP licence for 15 years.

The company has to pay a Tk 28 lakh yearly renewal fee and forward 5.5 percent of its revenue to the BTRC and 1 percent to the social obligation fund.

“Many subscribers face deliberate resistance. Operators frequently reject porting requests citing vague, sometimes non-compliant reasons.”

Exacerbating the issue, the MNP service is not readily available at most retail outlets, making it difficult for users to initiate the switch even when they are willing, he added.

The implementation of MNP in Bangladesh has deviated considerably from these global benchmarks, said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata.

Customers have encountered various obstacles, including unjustified rejections of porting requests, issues with one-time passwords (OTPs) and prolonged delays, all of which have undermined public trust in the service.

“Although a regulatory audit could have remedied the issue of unwarranted rejections, such an audit has not been conducted despite persistent advocacy.”

Moreover, mobile operators have been prohibited from actively promoting MNP, which has significantly limited public awareness and understanding of the service.

To make matters worse, the imposition of SIM tax on ported numbers further discouraged users from availing this facility, he added.

The MNP service has not met the expectations it was launched with, said BTRC Chairman Md Emdad Ul Bari.

“MNP is a measure of competitiveness and we aim to promote it as a tool to enhance competition. However, we have realised that MNP alone cannot significantly increase competitiveness. Therefore, we are introducing a broader competitiveness initiative in the new guidelines, which will also help boost the MNP.”