BNP hints at major ICT policy overhaul if elected

A senior BNP leader has said that a future democratically elected government would revisit all major decisions taken in Bangladesh's ICT and telecom sectors, arguing that public interest, national security and investor protection must guide future reforms.

Speaking at a seminar in Dhaka on Saturday, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the sector has suffered over the past 14-15 years due to questionable licensing processes and what he called the erosion of the telecom regulator's independence.

He said a new government would re-examine all large or sensitive decisions made by current unelected authorities to ensure fairness and accountability.

He stressed that domestic entrepreneurs must not be sidelined in a sector with high returns, warning that foreign investment should complement, not replace, local participation.

Telecom Reporters' Network Bangladesh (TRNB) organised the seminar titled "Challenges in Shaping Tomorrow's Bangladesh: The Future of Domestic Entrepreneurs in Telecom and ICT" at a city hotel. Mr Chowdhury said the telecom policy is "critical" and must be formulated on the basis of extensive consultation with stakeholders.

He reiterated that all large and sensitive decisions made by the current unelected authorities would be re-examined by an elected government, adding that the country's digital security must be central to any policy overhaul.

"My country must be given investment protection, my employment must be protected, and my ICT digital security must be protected," he said.

Mr Chowdhury stressed that while foreign investment is essential for developing the high-return ICT and telecom sectors, it must not replace local investment, and no discrimination should exist between domestic and foreign entrepreneurs.

He called for policies that allow Bangladeshi businesspersons to participate in profitable areas such as fibre, broadband and spectrum-driven services.

He also said the focus of future policy must be on creating a world-class, fast, reliable and secure network across both mobile and fixed services, with no unnecessary restrictions on critical infrastructure such as optical fibre or submarine cable connectivity.

BNP Chairperson's Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan said policy formulation must ensure digital sovereignty, arguing that any regulatory framework must prioritise cybersecurity and be grounded in accountability.

"There cannot be a policy without accountability," he said.

Gonoshonghoti Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki warned that new policies appear to shift control of the sector towards foreign entities at the expense of local companies such as IIGs and ISPs.

He said such an approach threatens the jobs of the five to seven lakh people working in the sector and contradicts the country's goal of building an economy on a strong domestic foundation.

Media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar said foreign investment should not come at the cost of domestic businesses. "If discrimination is not removed, foreign investors will capture the market, while local entrepreneurs will struggle to survive," he added.

Fibre@Home Chairman Moinul Haque Siddique said non-TTN operators have developed infrastructure outside Dhaka that demonstrates strong service expansion, yet the new telecom policy fails to safeguard domestic investors' interests or address employment concerns.

ISPA Bangladesh President Aminul Hakim noted that more than 2,500 local ISP operators have invested Tk 45 to 50 billion and provide services from villages to cities.

He said the industry had hoped the government would withdraw the policy after widespread criticism, but that expectation was not fulfilled.

The event also featured a keynote presentation by Suman Ahmed Sabir of Fibre@Home and remarks from AIOB member Brig Gen (retd) Mostafizur Rahman, BAHON Ltd's Rashed Amin Bidyut, journalists Masud Kamal and Shahed Alam, telecom policy analyst Abu Nazm Tanvir Hossain, as well as TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey and General Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin.

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