Will BTRC Become a Commission That Follows Orders?

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), headquartered in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, is at a crossroads. Suppose a critical national-level license application reaches BTRC. Under the proposed process, BTRC would forward it to a ministerial committee of five ministers, who would decide who receives the license and how many licenses are granted.

Historically, one influential minister might have held the upper hand. Under the new draft law, however, all five ministers could exert influence, and BTRC’s role could be reduced to simply executing the committee’s directions.

The caretaker government’s draft telecommunication ordinance suggests that this could soon become reality. BTRC, which once sought independence to operate free from external influence, may now face the opposite.

Currently, BTRC’s decisions require approval from the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology. The new proposal suggests placing two committees above BTRC, which technology policy advisor Abu Nazm Md. Tanvir Hossain criticizes as unnecessary interference.

BTRC officials are also concerned, warning that political influence over the commission could increase. Chairman Md. Emdadul Bari notes that seeking prior approval at every step is control, not accountability.

BTRC’s Struggle for Autonomy

BTRC was established in 2001 after the Telecommunications Act, initially allowing limited government intervention. After the Awami League came to power in 2009, political influence in the telecom sector grew. Amendments to the Telecommunications Act in 2010 required prior government approval for issuing or renewing licenses, administrative actions, name changes, tariff approvals, and other functions.

There have been allegations that licenses were issued in excess due to ministerial interference, going beyond BTRC’s designated numbers, often for political reasons. After the July mass uprising and the caretaker government took over, BTRC hoped to regain its lost autonomy—but the new draft suggests otherwise.