Banglalink faces Tk 555cr dues, network complaints and regulatory penalty

Banglalink is facing mounting scrutiny over outstanding government dues, network performance and regulatory compliance, with official data highlighting persistent service-quality problems among mobile operators in Bangladesh.

The government is seeking to recover Tk 555 crore from Banglalink Digital Communications, including Tk 430 crore in outstanding audit-related claims and Tk 125 crore in unpaid VAT linked to revenue-sharing payments, according to information presented in Parliament by Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam.

The company is also facing questions over its network performance. A Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) assessment published in September found that Banglalink recorded the highest call-drop rate for 2G voice calls among the four mobile operators assessed. The report also identified shortcomings in network coverage, voice quality and internet performance across the industry.

Customer complaints have added to concerns about mobile service quality. BTRC data show that Banglalink received 8,711 complaints between January 2021 and June 2026, as subscribers across the industry reported weak network coverage, dropped calls, slow internet, billing disputes and unexpected balance deductions. The four operators received a combined 66,705 complaints during the period.

Banglalink was also among four operators fined by BTRC in July 2026 over SIM cards allegedly linked to illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) operations. The regulator imposed a penalty of Tk 1.86 crore on the company after identifying 1,859 SIM cards associated with the activities, citing failures to implement required safeguards against telecom fraud.

Separately, an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case concerns the alleged waiver of approximately Tk 152 crore in interest payable by four mobile operators. The amount attributed to Banglalink was around Tk 57.88 crore, according to figures cited in reports on the case. The allegations concern a former National Board of Revenue official; they do not establish wrongdoing by Banglalink itself.