White Paper Warns of Prolonged Problems in Bangladesh’s Telecom Sector
A special White Paper detailing corruption, irregularities, and administrative mismanagement in Bangladesh’s Posts and Telecommunications Division (PTD) over the past 15 years has been published. The information was confirmed on January 5 (Monday) through a press release issued by the Public Relations Wing of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. The White Paper has been made publicly accessible on the division’s official website.
Spanning 3,272 pages, the White Paper presents a comprehensive account of the crisis in Bangladesh’s telecommunications sector, highlighting unfulfilled commitments, strategic neglect, and administrative fragility. Using extensive data and analysis, the report points to an unclear division of roles and responsibilities among the Posts and Telecommunications Division, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and other related bodies. This lack of clarity, the report observes, has hampered policy implementation and weakened accountability.
The White Paper also offers an in-depth review of how fragmented licensing, multi-layered approval processes, and weak regulation have contributed to a complex and inefficient market structure over the last decade and a half. Additionally, it notes that a price-centric spectrum policy, delays in infrastructure sharing, and stringent internet regulations have prevented the country from fully benefiting from advanced technologies such as 5G.
While acknowledging significant investment in the telecom sector during this period, the report criticizes the failure to ensure service quality commensurate with that investment. It also raises concerns about existing tax policies, stating that the current tax structure has become a barrier to network expansion and new investment. If the state aims to ensure fast and affordable broadband for all, the report argues, tax policies must be realigned with that objective.
The task force behind the report has recommended a clear delineation of responsibilities among stakeholders, the establishment of an independent appellate mechanism, the creation of a dedicated research and policy analysis unit, transparent performance indicators, and a robust project management framework.
The White Paper was prepared by a panel of experts, including BUET EEE Department Professor Dr Kamrul Hasan, University of Dhaka EEE Department Professor Dr Mosabber Uddin Ahmed, economist Dr Niaz Asadullah, BUET EEE Professor Dr Lutfah Akter, telecom expert Ekhlas Uddin Ahmed, technologist Fida Haq, and University of Dhaka Computer Science and Engineering Department’s Md Azhar Uddin.
According to the ministry, a special task force was formed to examine the nature of corruption, irregularities, and structural weaknesses within the PTD over the past 15 years. Following extensive investigation, the task force produced this White Paper, which not only documents past misconduct but also includes key recommendations aimed at ensuring future transparency, accountability, and good governance.
The government expects the White Paper to serve as an important roadmap for institutional reform, anti-corruption efforts, and the delivery of citizen-friendly telecom services.
It may be recalled that the task force was formed on April 21, 2025, with the approval of the Chief Adviser. Its primary objective was to identify irregularities of the past 15 years and lay the foundation for a more transparent system.
However, experts caution that the government’s true measure of success will lie in effectively addressing the problems identified in the White Paper.
DBTech/AI/NE/OR
