The number of internet subscribers reached 131 million at the end of December, 2023, including nearly 7 million new users in the last year, showed the recently released data by the country's telecom regulator. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) data showed that of the internet subscribers, some 118.49 million are mobile internet users and 12.88 million broadband internet users. Read more: US expresses concerns over Sri Lanka's controversial internet regulation law Meanwhile, with 10.61 million new mobile users in 2023, the number of subscribers in the country reached 190.81 million in December 2023. Bangladesh has currently four mobile companies in operation, three of them being foreign-backed cellphone operators. The number of subscribers of mobile operators Grameen Phone, Robi Axiata, Banglalink Digital Communications and Teletalk Bangladesh stood at 82.20 million, 58.67 million, 43.48 million and 6.46 million, respectively, at the end of December, the data shows. Read more: Internet, phone service gradually returns after vanishing for most of Gaza amid heavy bombardment

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government is using "internet shutdown" as a weapon to suppress the movement of the opposition. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the current regime is also using the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as a modern tool to repress people, deprive them of their rights to have uninterrupted internet access and snatch their freedom of expression. "The government is using a new digital weapon, 'internet-shutdown', to snatch people's right to have nonstop internet access and their freedom of expression out of its fear of a mass uprising,” the BNP leader said. Apart from the internet shutdown, he said the government has continued various other forms of digital torture, including monitoring the smartphones of the opposition leaders, violating their personal privacy, and checking their cell phones. "We strongly protest the abuse of digital technology.” 1,651 BNP men sued in another case over Tuesday’s clash in Feni The BNP leader demanded the government immediately repeal the Digital Security Act (DSA) as not only the BNP leaders and workers but also the freethinkers are being subjected to harassment through it. “Internet-shutdown incidents are terrible violations of civic rights. It is a crime similar to murder and enforced disappearance,” he said. When a person is subjected to enforced disappearance, Fakhrul said, only one person is lost. “But if the internet is shut down somewhere, crores of people in the country and abroad become victims of it. Erasing people’s existence online is as much a crime as a murder. The fascist Awami League regime is continuously committing this crime.” BNP’s media cell arranged the press conference to protest against all forms of digital torture, including internet shutdown. One-point Movement: BNP to hold grand rally in Dhaka next Thursday Fakhrul highlighted the incident of shutting down mobile internet services during BNP’s rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office on July 12 last and during BNP’s divisional rallies in Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur, Sylhet, Cumilla, Rajshahi and Dhaka in November and December last year. He alleged that though the interest services were disconnected in the Nayapaltan area on July 12 during BNP’s rally, the internet connection was normal on the same day during the ruling party’s rally in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. BNP’s ‘youth rally’ underway at Suhrawardy Udyan with huge crowds   According to a report released by digital rights watchdog Access Now this year, the BNP leader said Bangladesh ranked fifth in the world in terms of the number of internet shutdowns. He said four countries---India 84 times, Ukraine 22 times, Iran 18 times, and Myanmar 7 times—shut down the internet due to a state of insurgency or a war-like situation. The BNP leader questioned whether there was any war in Bangladesh for which the government was forced to shut down internet services six times. “Against whom the government is waging that war?.” "Internet services are now an essential means of expressing people’s opinions. Discontinuance of this service mainly hampers the freedom of expression,” he observed. Stating that internet services are now not limited to social media entertainment only, the BNP leader said as these services have expanded to many important areas, including financial transactions, education, medical treatment, data collection, preservation, outsourcing, overseas travel, employment, and job interviews, and has become an indispensable part of life. “So, we believe that the incidents of blocking or controlling the Internet services are a clear violation of the civic rights of individuals, a clear violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international agreements on civil and political rights," Fakhrul asserted. He also alleged that the police are harassing ordinary people by illegally arresting them on the streets and searching their mobile phones.    

The telecom regulator has placed an indefinite suspension on the SIM card sale of Grameenphone for the operator's failure to provide quality service. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) imposed an indefinite suspension on Grameenphone as it is not providing quality service to its users despite repeatedly being asked to do so, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar told UNB Wednesday. Also Read: 5G internet within December: BTRC "The telecom company has no intention to provide quality service, as it is not doing anything to fix the problems that its subscribers are facing," he added. "The BTRC placed the sale of Grameenphone SIM cards on indefinite suspension as we do not want new uses to face the same problems."

The BTRC issued a statement in August 2021 detailing the unlawfully acquired and imported cell phones. Furthermore, freshly imported unlawful handsets will be removed from the local network through the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). Anyone can verify and check the BTRC IMEI code of his smartphone to protect their device from becoming obsolete. This article will give a step-by-step process of verifying the IMEI number of a handset. What is an IMEI Number? The term IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity, a unique number used to recognize a mobile phone on a network. It's like a social security number, except it's given to a phone. An IMEI number comprises 15 digits and is assigned to all GSM phones. The BTRC IMEI is the IMEI number that is given or assigned by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Read Why are Smartphone Makers Increasing Prices? They have created a database in order to store IMEI numbers, which mobile service providers may access. The user does not need to register the IMEI number they are currently using until June 30, 2021. Over ten million cell phone IMEI numbers have already been registered. How to Check Official Phone Using BTRC IMEI Number? So, smartphone buyers should know how to check or verify their BTRC IMEI. Because before purchasing a new smartphone, verify the IMEI of the device with the BTRC to determine whether it was imported illegally and legally in Bangladesh. People can perform a BTRC IMEI status check following these simple steps: Find the IMEI of a Smartphone First, dial a general code *#06#. It will show the 15-digit code, also known as the IMEI number. Every phone has a unique IMEI number. Users will need this number to further check their BTRC IMEI. Read How to Recognize a Clone Smartphone? Send a Short Message to BTRC to Verify IMEI This step requires users to go to their message option and type below term KYD 15 Digit IMEI Send the SMS to 16002 Wait for Getting a Verification SMS from BTRC After sending the request, users will promptly get an instant SMS from the BTRC’s end. This SMS will inform them whether their smartphones have been imported legally or not. Read Best Gaming Phones Released in 2021 Conclusion Finally, a crucial reminder for the users is that to register or verify the IMEI number, they should keep the BTRC IMEI verification number safe. Additionally, they should ensure that they do not divulge their IMEI number to a single person. Shady people routinely add a real IMEI number to an illegal or stolen device in order to prevent it from being blacklisted. This is highly prohibited in many countries.

 All types of illegal mobile phone sets in Bangladesh will shut off automatically from Friday with an SMS notification to the users, the country’s telecommunications regulator said Thursday. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has taken the decision to stop the use of illegally imported mobile phones. According to a statement circulated Thursday, BTRC has ensured the receipt or delivery of various government services through registration of each mobile phone by tagging with NID card and registered SIM card, ensuring collection of government revenue by stopping the use of illegally produced or imported mobiles, prevention of theft and misuse of used mobiles. Read: BTRC shuts 59 unregistered, illegal IPTVs The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) was launched on 1 July to prevent theft and misuse of mobile phones and to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies for the sake of national security, added the BTRC release. In this regard, the BTRC requested customers to check the validity by sending an SMS – KYD and 15 digit IMEI number from the message option (example - KYD 123456789012345) – to 16002 before buying a new handset. Read: BTRC reminds users of least-promoted service: 'Do Not Disturb' for promo texts! They also requested users to complete the registration through http://www.neir.btrc.gov.bd before using legally imported or purchased or gifted mobile phones. At the same time, the commission urged importers and local mobile phone handset manufacturers not to produce or sell illegal mobile phones. It also requested the vendors to refrain from selling illegal phone sets.

The  Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) got 14 more days from the High Court to shut the unregistered news portals. According to the court’s order the deadline for closing all unregistered online news portals was today but BTRC didn’t receive a list of those portals from the Ministry of Information  on time, Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar told UNB. To avoid contempt of court and maintain the deadline BTRC itself made a list and started closing unregistered  news portals today and few registered ones got closed during the process,” said the minister. Read: BTRC shuts 59 unregistered, illegal IPTVs Later the registered news portals were opened and 14 more days were sought from the court to close the unregistered ones,he said. “The Information Minister has said a list of unregistered online news portals will be sent within two or three days from the ministry and BTRC will start the closure process accordingly,” said Mustafa Jabbar. On September 14, a High Court bench ordered to shut all the unregistered online news portals within a week and asked BTRC and Bangladesh press Council to take action accordingly. Read: BTRC reminds users of least-promoted service: 'Do Not Disturb' for promo texts! On August 16, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why directives should not be given to shut down the unauthorized news portals. The HC also sought to know why the directives should not be given to take steps in forming a ‘Broadcasting Commission’ as per the National Broadcasting Policy-2014.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has shut 59 unregistered and illegal Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTVs ). The commission in a notification issued Sunday said those IPTVs have no connection with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) approved for IP-based data service. IPTV is the process through which contents published in television are broadcast using internet protocol network. BRTC only allows licensed ISP institutions to provide IP-based data services like- streaming service, IP-TV , video-on-demand, said the notice. Read: Action against unregistered news portals, IPTVs soon, says Hasan Mahmud The approved ISP operators are allowed to show the internet broadcast of the satellite TV channels approved by the information ministry to only their customers. However, the agreement, approval or release to broadcast a particular channel, content or program has to be collected from the concerned institutions, said the BTRC. Recently some unscrupulous traders are illegally buying domains and showing IPTV through Facebook, YouTube channels which violates the Telecommunication Act, said the notice.

Healthy competition should be ensured in the fast-growing mobile financial services (MFS) segment for the benefit of the users and the operators, and the regulator needs to ensure that no one acts like a monster, said Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar Saturday. Jabbar was addressing the webinar "Competition and Partnership in MFS Industry" organised by Telecom Reporters' Network Bangladesh (TRNB). "Lack of interoperability is a huge bottleneck of this industry. If the banks can enjoy interoperability, then why cannot the MFS do it?" Jabbar asked. Md Mofizul Islam, chair of Bangladesh Competition Commission said the market will not be sustainable if competition can be ensured. "We have not got any complaint from the customers about substandard services that hurt market competition. However, it is our responsibility to sit with the Bangladesh Bank and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to settle the issues as there are huge cross-cutting points among us when it comes to MFS," Mofizul said. He said they wrote to the Bangladesh Bank one year earlier to know about the situation of MFS but are yet to get any reply. However, BTRC chair Shyam Sunder Sikder said, "There is a monopoly in the MFS. Nagad was the first service provider to disrupt it. But still, the market competition is uneven. So regulations on the significant market power holder is needed. The cash-out charge of Tk 20 is not acceptable." Dutch Bangla Bank is the parent company of Rocket, the first MFS carrier of the country. The bank's Managing Director Abul Kashem Md Shirin said 70% of the pricing for the service is enjoyed by agents. "Agents get benefitted in many ways as it is not their primary business. Only the regular users get affected." Tanvir A Mishuk, co-founder and managing director of Nagad, said, "A fair competition will only help the end-users. Two years back, when we started, the monopoly in the market beggared belief. We have reduced the cash-out or send money charge." Mizanur Rashid, the chief commercial officer of bKash, said the government should take decisions based on a win-win situation for all. "The time and travel costs are not being taken into consideration while referring to the high charges." Barrister M Iftekhar Jonaed, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, said the competition commission has the legal capacity to intervene in the sector to break the monopoly. "One of the tasks of the commission is to ensure that no firm enjoys an undue advantage because of its monopoly market share." TRNB Secretary General Samir Kumar Dey said, "As one operator is holding the majority of the market share, the cost for cash out or bill pay at the user side is not going down. Although some small operators are trying to lower the service costs, it is not becoming effective because of the uneven competition."

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has asked mobile phone users to use the "Do Not Disturb" service to stop receiving unwanted and promotional texts on phones. Mobile phone users often receive phone calls and messages that they do not want. Although such messages are sometimes meant for informing people, they can be annoying to many users. Following the instructions of the BTRC, the mobile operators launched the option of blocking promotional SMSs for the customers several years ago. However, unaware of the service, many customers still complain to the regulator about the nuisance texts. So, the BTRC has started sensitising people about the solution that already exists for the problem. Anyone who does not want to receive promotional SMS on their mobile can dial the following short code and activate the Do Not Disturb service, the regulator said in a statement on Saturday. To stop it, Grameenphone users will have to dial *121*1101#, Banglalink users *121*8*6# and for Robi and Airtel it is *7#.

Grameenphone's board of directors Monday approved a 275% cash dividend for 2020 in its annual general meeting (AGM).  The 24th AGM was held through a digital platform following the instructions of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and the risk of the virus spreading among the participants of the meeting, the company said in a statement. Grameenphone's board of directors announced a cash dividend of 145% of the paid-up capital or Tk14.5 per share of Tk10 each.  Read GP Explorers 2.0 launched to upskill 357 youths With this cash dividend pay-out, the total cash dividend stands at 275% of the paid-up capital, including the previous 130% interim cash dividend pay-out, amounting to 99.86% of profit after tax for the year 2020. At the meeting, Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman said: "In 2020, we were agile, innovative and delivered a solid performance by running our operations following contingent ways of work in the face of Covid-19 pandemic and natural calamities while ensuring the safety of our employees and our supply chain partners."  Grameenphone wants to focus on its operational efficiencies and strategies to ensure better coverage and customer-driven initiatives. Also read: Grameenphone announces 15,500 4G towers in country The company has acquired an additional 10.4 MHz spectrum in the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) auction, amounting to a total of 47.4 MHz spectrum.  On top of additional spectrum acquisition, Grameenphone has also celebrated 50 years of Bangladesh on March 26, 2021, by announcing all its 15,500 towers 4G enabled across Bangladesh.  Jorgen C Arentz Rostrup, chair of Grameenphone Board, said: "Our focus for the year ahead will be to ensure Grameenphone's long-term sustainability. We continue to adapt to the challenges of the current Covid-19 reality. The company focuses on ensuring a better network experience, ensuring growth, innovation, modernisation, and stand by society with responsible business conduct."  Read Grameenphone announces 15,500 4G towers in country