Bangladesh applies passive infrastructure sharing obligations in the telecommunications sector. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Guidelines for Infrastructure Sharing, issued under Section 31(2)(r) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001, require telecommunications infrastructure to be shared on a non-discriminatory basis. Under Clause 1.3, infrastructure sharing includes the leasing, renting, or swapping of infrastructure with other service providers.
The Guidelines expressly cover passive infrastructure. Section 2(4) defines passive infrastructure to include physical sites, buildings, shelters, towers or masts, power supply, ducts, trenches, rights of way, in-house wiring, sub-loop facilities, and local-loop facilities. Section 4(1) applies the Guidelines to passive infrastructure sharing among BTRC-licensed telecommunications operators, while Sections 5(2)–5(6) establish the procedure for access requests, responses, refusals, and dispute resolution.
The current framework is complemented by the Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025, particularly Sections 7.2.3, 7.2.8, 7.7.1, 7.7.2, and 7.7.6, as well as by the National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Provider (NICSP) Licensing Guidelines.

The Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025 introduced a new licensing framework for Bangladesh’s telecommunications and digital-connectivity sector, establishing several maximum foreign equity limits.
The Policy sets different foreign ownership caps depending on the licence category, including:
- For Cellular Mobile Service Provider licences, foreign ownership is capped at 85%, with a corresponding requirement of at least 15% domestic participation (Sections 7.2.11.1–7.2.11.2).
- For National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Provider (NICSP) licences, including existing Nationwide Telecommunications Transmission Network (NTTN) and Tower Sharing licences, foreign ownership is generally capped at 65% (Sections 7.7.12.2–7.7.12.3). However, exceptions may allow foreign equity of up to 85% (Section 7.7.12.5).
- For International Connectivity Service Provider (ICSP) licences, foreign shareholding is limited to 49% (Section 7.8.8).
The 60% foreign ownership cap previously set out in Section 4.06(i) of the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Guidelines has been superseded by the ownership limits established under the new licensing policy. Similarly, the previous Tower Sharing regime has been integrated into the NICSP category under Section 7.7.13. More generally, Sections 10.3.3, 13.7, and 14.2 provide that renewals and new applications must be issued under the new licensing categories, while existing licences may continue during their current terms.

The government maintains ownership of shares in specific telecommunications companies. Notably, the government holds full ownership of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited, Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, Telephone Shilpa Sangstha Ltd, and Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited. In addition, the government retains a 73.84% shareholding in Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited.

Bangladesh imposes obligations of accounting and functional separation on telecommunications operators with Significant Market Power (SMP). Under the Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025, Sections 11.8.1 and 11.8.2(d) authorise the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to identify SMP operators and impose requirements relating to accounting separation and financial transparency.
The Policy further gives BTRC broader separation-related powers. Sections 11.8.5(c) and 11.8.7(b)–(c) allow BTRC to review financial transparency, recommend structural separation where justified, prohibit undue accumulation of licences across distinct functional layers without operational or structural separation, and require accounting separation, firewall mechanisms, and public disclosure for multi-layer licensees.

Under Section 96 of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority Act, the government is empowered, in the public interest, to assume control of any telecommunication system, along with any necessary arrangements for its operation. This control may be maintained for an indefinite period, during which the operator and the employees of the telecom operator may be required to remain engaged either on a full-time basis or for a specified duration to ensure the continued operation of the apparatus or system.

The Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025 establishes a new licensing framework for Bangladesh and imposes specific market-entry conditions. Under Section 7.3.4, Cellular Mobile Service Provider licences are subject to a limited licensing framework, with the number of licences determined by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) based on spectrum availability, market competition, and consumer benefit. For National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Provider (NICSP) licences, Section 7.7.10 requires applicants to demonstrate minimum investment capacity. However, this minimum investment has not yet been established.

Bangladesh has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

Bangladesh has a telecommunications regulatory authority, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). However, its decision-making process is not entirely independent of government influence. Officially, the BTRC is an autonomous regulatory body tasked with overseeing telecommunications and related matters. Nevertheless, reports suggest that, in practice, it lacks genuine independence and primarily represents governmental interests. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology (MPTIT) is responsible for regulating the sector, with the BTRC functioning as a subsidiary entity. Additionally, the Posts and Telecommunications Division (PTD) within the MPTIT supervises the BTRC's operations.

Section 8(14) of the Bangladesh Patent Act, 2023 empowers the Director General, before granting a patent, to require a foreign patent applicant to adapt the patent description to the general skill of Bangladeshi citizens, with a view to promoting the use of the patented technology in Bangladesh. It is reported that imposing this requirement exclusively on foreign applicants in the patent-granting process may constitute discrimination, thereby potentially violating the principle of national treatment.

Section 12 of the Bank Company Act provides that banks may not transfer records or documents relating to their business outside Bangladesh without prior approval by the Central Bank.

According to Section 64(1) of the Bangladesh Patent Act, 2023, where the applicant’s ordinary residence or place of business is outside Bangladesh, the applicant must be represented by a suitable Bangladeshi person who resides in Bangladesh.

According to Sections 2.3.1.2 and 2.3.4.5 of the Bangladesh Bank Guidelines on Cloud Computing, 2023, the hosting of customers' sensitive data in the cloud used by banks necessitates exceptional approval from the Central Bank.

Bangladesh is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).