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again, arguing that the cap was harming service quality and international connectivity, with foreign carriers reporting low answer-seizure ratios, high network error rates, frequent call rejections, and increased call drops.

Traffic data shows that BTCL’s actual call volume had stayed below the ceiling for months, falling from 243.99 million minutes in October 2025 to 198.72 million minutes in March 2026. Daily averages declined from 7.87 million to 6.41 million minutes over the same period, meaning actual traffic remained below the imposed ceiling.

Pointing to the decline, BTRC Chairman Md Emdad ul Bari said international incoming call volumes have fallen significantly in recent years, and BTCL already terminates fewer than 8 million minutes daily.

“Therefore, keeping this cap in place is no longer necessary,” he added.

The decision has drawn scrutiny from industry observers who say it reflects a broader pattern of unequal enforcement.

TIM Nurul Kabir, a telecom industry expert, described the BTRC’s approach as a “dual regulatory mechanism” in which government-owned entities receive preferential treatment and face little punitive action for non-compliance.

Similar non-compliance by private operators usually leads to stricter measures, including service restrictions, he said. “This creates concerns, as regulatory consistency is essential for maintaining market balance.”