Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is awaiting government approval to cancel Aamra Technologies’ International Internet Gateway (IIG) licence over Tk28.39 crore in outstanding dues.
The telecom regulator has already sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division seeking prior approval for the cancellation, said Brigadier General Shafiul Azam Parvez, director general (additional charge) of BTRC’s Legal and Licensing Department.
“The letter has already been sent to the ministry. We have not received any decision yet,” he told TIMES.
According to regulatory documents, Aamra Technologies owes Tk28.39 crore in revenue sharing, licence fees, value-added tax and late fees as of July 2026. The regulator said the company failed to clear the dues despite earlier instalment facilities and repeated payment notices.
Aamra Technologies, however, disputed the regulator’s calculation. In its reply submitted on 8 June, the company said BTRC records showed dues of Tk25.97 crore as of February 2025, while its actual outstanding amount was Tk12.01 crore.
The company said the remaining Tk13,95,48,992 represented late fees and penalties.
Aamra proposed an initial payment of Tk60.05 lakh, equivalent to 5 per cent of the amount it considered claimed its actual dues, followed by repayment of Tk11.41 crore in 48 equal monthly instalments.
The company also requested removal of the bandwidth cap imposed on its operations and asked BTRC to instruct Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC and Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd to lift related restrictions so that it could resume IIG operations.
BTRC rejected the proposal. The regulator cited the company’s previous failure to comply with instalment arrangements. It also noted that Aamra’s IIG licence, issued on 12 April 2012, remains valid until 11 April 2027. A four-year, 48 months, repayment schedule would therefore extend beyond the licence period.
The commission further said that while Aamra sought withdrawal of the bandwidth cap, the company did not commit to paying the full Tk28.39 crore claimed by the regulator. BTRC documents show that Aamra Technologies is currently under 100 per cent bandwidth capping and is therefore not operational.
The move follows BTRC’s July decision to seek government approval after rejecting Aamra Technologies’ response to a show-cause notice and its proposal to settle what the company described as its actual dues through a down payment and 48 monthly instalments.
The regulatory action began earlier in 2026 when BTRC’s Finance, Accounts and Revenue Department recommended steps towards licence cancellation over the outstanding dues. The issue was placed before the commission in January, following which the Legal and Licensing Department was instructed to take steps for cancellation.
BTRC later sought government approval to issue a show-cause notice, which was granted by the Posts and Telecommunications Division on 9 April. BTRC issued the notice on 10 May, citing alleged violations of regulatory instructions, IIG guidelines, licence conditions and provisions of Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001.
Aamra submitted its response on 8 June, but BTRC concluded in July that the explanation did not adequately address the dues or provide an acceptable repayment plan. The commission also directed its Finance, Accounts and Revenue Department to take necessary measures to recover the full outstanding amount.
Aamra Technologies said it had not received any further communication regarding the proposed licence cancellation.
Its Company Secretary Md Manirul Hossain told TIMES that there had been no new communication from the regulator.
