Banglalink CEO Urges Digital Banking Rollout and Telecom Policy Reforms
Chief Executive Officer of Banglalink, Johan Buse, has emphasized the urgent need to introduce digital banking and undertake policy reforms in the telecommunications sector to accelerate financial inclusion and expand digital services in the country.
He made the remarks on 14 March during an informal conversation with telecom journalists on the sidelines of an iftar event held at the Padma Hall of Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital.
The event was attended by nearly a hundred media professionals. Among those present were Banglalink Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman, Chief Financial Officer Md. Abdul Kader Jowaddar, Chief Technology and Information Officer Hussein Turkar, Chief Marketing Officer Kazi Mahbub Hasan, Chief Digital Officer Golam Kibria, Acting Chief Human Resources Officer Ruhul Kader, and Head of Corporate Communication Gazi Towhid Ahmed, along with other senior officials.
During the informal discussion at the iftar gathering, Buse described the recent years as challenging but expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s economic prospects.
Although he is working in Bangladesh as a foreign executive, he said he is eager to contribute to the development of the country’s people. He noted that further strengthening the nation’s prosperity and public welfare would be possible through infrastructure development, expansion of digital services, and policy reforms. “One might think that I am an outsider to this country, but my primary purpose in coming here is to work for the welfare of the people,” he said.
In this context, he mentioned that Banglalink’s parent company, VEON, has applied for a license to establish a digital bank in Bangladesh and is interested in becoming part of the ecosystem in this sector.
Buse believes that the introduction of digital banking could bring significant changes to Bangladesh’s financial services sector, as these services can reach people more easily and at lower cost compared to traditional banking systems.
He explained that digital banks differ from conventional banks because they do not require expensive physical branches or complex paperwork, making services more affordable and accessible. As an example, he noted that in Singapore it is possible to open a bank account in less than three minutes using a smartphone.
Addressing the challenges facing the telecommunications sector, Buse said that the price of spectrum in the country is very high, placing additional pressure on operators. In his view, the current market structure raises concerns about competition and the long-term sustainability of private operators.
He added that there is also an opportunity to expand cooperation in the telecom sector, particularly with the state-owned operator Teletalk Bangladesh. Encouraging partnerships between government-owned institutions and experienced private operators, he said, could further strengthen service quality and technological capabilities.
The Banglalink CEO noted that such partnerships would allow the extensive network of government institutions to be combined with the innovation, investment, and operational expertise of the private sector. He added that Banglalink would be interested in considering such partnership opportunities if they arise.
DBTech/IH/MUM/OR
