CA’s special assistant brushes aside corruption charge, vows to dismantle teleco syndicate

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on telecom affairs Fayez Tayyab Ahmed on Monday brushed aside the allegations of corruption against him and the ministry, raised in a section of the media.

Addressing a press briefing in Dhaka city, Mr Tayyab stated that the project, centring which the allegations were raised, is being carried out with total transparency.

He said that the project, undertaken by the state-owned BTCL (Bangladesh Telecom Company Limited), was launched to expand its capacity and network, and an LC worth Tk 2,900 million was already opened for equipment purchase.

For BTCL, the network upgradation is crucial, as its competitors are enhancing their capacities in a huge way to cater to future demand.

“I have written to the ACC Chairman that if the project is not implemented, the government would not only lose Tk 6,000 million, the BTCL will also be out of the market for its poor capacity and network.”

He said that the equipment is being supplied by the lowest bidders, and the specifications are being certified by BUET experts.

According to the Special Assistant, the Telecom Syndicate, which plundered the sector during the previous regime, is spreading propaganda against him and the ministry in a bid to malign him.

“I condemn this ill effort, and I want to make it clear that the present government has the moral strength to carry on the reform in this sector to dismantle the syndicate, which illegally plundered public money with the backing of the past fascist regime,” he added.

He said the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 paved the way for a wave of reform under the interim administration. BTRC, in coordination with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, is now in the final stages of introducing a “Telecom Network and Licensing Reform Policy–2025,” aiming to dismantle redundant layers such as ICX and IOF; simplify the licensing regime into a three-tier structure; promote SME- and ISP-friendly licensing with light-touch regulation; cap foreign ownership (49 per cent international, 55–60 per cent national); liberalise fibre infrastructure and remove monopolies; and reduce intermediaries from 6–7 to just 3 layers.

BTRC has also imposed stringent conditions on defaulting license holders. These include bans on share transfers, changes in ownership, company name alterations, and license renewals unless 50 per cent of outstanding dues are paid upfront, with the rest to be cleared within 6–12 months.

The regulator has already announced that ICX and IGW licenses set to expire in 2027 will not be renewed, signalling the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh’s telecom sector, he added.

“Unsurprisingly, these reforms have met resistance. The beneficiaries of the old regime are actively trying to block reforms,” said a telecom policy analyst. “They’ve formed syndicates to protect their interests and prevent new entrants from entering the market.”

“Critics of the reform—many unknowingly aligned with corrupt legacy operators—have questioned the government’s aggressive moves. But BTRC remains firm that the licensing overhaul is essential to democratising the telecom landscape,” he pointed out.

“One of the most direct consequences of the syndicate-run telecom regime has been inflated costs for consumers. For example, ICX operators added an unnecessary 5 paisa per minute to domestic call charges—money that could have been saved or reinvested in infrastructure.”

The upcoming policy intends to pass these savings on to end-users by reducing toll costs, promoting competition, and encouraging direct international connectivity by mobile operators, he added.

The reform process will be anchored by three strategic pillars: a new Telecom Policy, a revised Telecom Act, and a comprehensive Quality of Service Framework.

BTRC has also launched public complaint channels such as the Telecom White Paper and the ICT White Paper Committee, where stakeholders can report irregularities in recruitment, license transfers, and corruption, the Special Assistant stated.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com