According to sources, Bangladesh has canceled the bandwidth transit agreement with India that was signed during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This move is expected to severely impact India’s plans of becoming a regional internet hub. The distance between Bangladesh and India is growing, and the unnatural closeness between the two countries seems to be coming to an end. Since the public revolution of August 5 in Bangladesh, the interim government has been clearly distancing itself from India.
According to Indian media, last year the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) requested high-speed internet services from India for two Bangladeshi companies. This request led to an agreement with an Indian telecom company. On December 1, 2024, Bangladesh canceled the agreement, citing no economic benefit for the country, even though this agreement played a crucial role in enhancing India’s digital connectivity.
Indian media reports suggest that the decision of the current Bangladeshi government is influenced more by political reasons than economic interests. The Indian companies providing the “bandwidth transit” are considered to have close ties with the Awami League, the party of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government of Mohammad Yunus made this decision to reduce the influence of these companies and strengthen its own position. This move by the Bangladeshi government appears to be thwarting India’s dream of regional dominance in the area.
