Mon Dec 09 08:50:00 UTC 2024: **Bangladesh Cancels Internet Bandwidth Deal with India, Citing Economic Concerns Amidst Bilateral Tensions**
DHAKA/NEW DELHI – A planned agreement to improve internet connectivity in India’s northeastern states via Bangladesh has been abruptly cancelled by Bangladesh’s interim government, triggering concerns about the impact on regional cooperation. The decision, announced on December 1st, scraps a deal that would have seen Bangladeshi companies Summit Communications and Fiber@Home supply high-speed bandwidth from Singapore to India, transiting through the Akhaura border.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) cited a lack of economic benefit for Bangladesh as the reason for the cancellation. However, analysts suggest the move is also linked to the deteriorating relationship between India and Bangladesh following the recent political upheaval in the latter. The interim government, led by President Abdus Sattar, came to power after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government amid widespread protests.
Summit Communications and Fiber@Home, companies with alleged ties to the Awami League, were central to the now-cancelled project. The interim government’s action is seen by some as an attempt to consolidate its power and reduce the influence of companies associated with the previous administration.
The cancellation casts a shadow over bilateral relations, which have already been strained by recent events, including reports of increased violence against minority groups in Bangladesh. The project aimed to improve digital infrastructure in India’s remote northeastern region, a move now jeopardized by the Bangladeshi government’s decision. The long-term effects on regional connectivity and cooperation remain uncertain.
First Piper 