Grameenphone Partners with Monico Pharma for ICT Solutions

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reduced broadband prices by Tk 100, lowering monthly fees for 5 Mbps, 10 Mbps, and 20 Mbps packages to Tk 400, Tk 700, and Tk 1,100 respectively.

The BTRC's draft telecom policy proposes consolidating over 20 licence types into three—NICSP, ICSP, and ANSP—aiming to simplify regulations and attract foreign investment. However, experts warn it may entrench monopolies, as it permits up to 100% foreign ownership in ANSP, 70% in NICSP, and 49% in ICSP without limiting cross-ownership, enabling dominant players like Axiata, Telenor, and Veon to hold stakes across all categories.

The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to block all websites and social media handles linked to the Awami League and its affiliated bodies, citing the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.

Bangladesh's telecom sector, contributing just 1% to GDP but 5% to total tax revenue, faces unsustainable fiscal pressure due to high taxation and complex regulations. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) has fallen 56% over a decade to $1.3—among the world’s lowest—while mobile users bear a 39% total tax burden, including 18% VAT, 20% supplementary duty, and 1% surcharge.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed a $58 million long-term loan to Renata PLC, a prominent pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh, to ease its working capital constraints amid US dollar liquidity challenges. The funding aims to stabilize Renata’s supply chain by enabling secure access to imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), vital for uninterrupted medicine production.

In Q3 of FY 2024–25, ACI Limited reported a consolidated loss of Tk 13.69 crore, a sharp decline from a Tk 1.65 crore profit in the same period last year, despite a 17% year-on-year revenue growth to Tk 3,573.50 crore.