Corporate
Citycell says its licence was cancelled illegally, it wants it back
Pacific Bangladesh Telecom, the first mobile phone operator in the country, seeks to relaunch Citycell.
The company has recently applied to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to reclaim its licence and spectrum.
In 2016, the BTRC shut down Citycell’s operations on the grounds of a decline in subscribers and failure to pay outstanding dues. Later, in October 2023, the regulatory body officially cancelled Citycell’s licence and spectrum. At the time of its closure, Citycell, the country’s only CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology operator, had around 15,000 subscribers.
However, in its recent review application letter, Pacific Bangladesh Telecom stated that BTRC’s order to cancel Citycell’s licence was illegal.
Pacific Bangladesh Telecom in the application, signed by its head of regulatory and corporate affairs Nishat Ali Khan, argued that Citycell was excluded from various technological upgrades, including spectrum allocation, due to political decisions by the then government.
Despite paying all fees, new claims of outstanding dues were raised unjustifiably, it said. Ultimately, the operation was shut down citing a decrease in subscribers, even though Citycell had an annual turnover of over Tk200 crore before the closure, said the company.
Nishat told the news reporter that they plan to return to court, deeming BTRC’s cancellation of Citycell’s licence illegal while the case concerning outstanding dues is still ongoing in court.
“We have applied to the BTRC to get the licence back, and we will also appeal to the court in the future,” he said.
In the letter, Pacific Bangladesh Telecom stated that at the time of Citycell’s shutdown, the company held 8.82 GB of spectrum and had 850 towers. The closure left 1,000 employees unemployed overnight.
It also claimed to have fully paid all types of fees, including VAT and taxes. As a result of the shutdown, the company said it incurred debts amounting to Tk4,000 crore. If Citycell had remained operational, it could have generated at least Tk2,000 crore in revenue during the period until now.
The letter mentioned that BTRC’s claim of Tk218 crore in outstanding dues, which led to the cancellation of Citycell’s licence, was incorrect. The company argued that although the BTRC demanded the amount for 10 GB of spectrum, Citycell was actually allocated 8.5 GB of spectrum. Therefore, the claim lacked justification, it said, adding that the matter of outstanding dues was already being contested in court.
When asked why it did not approach the court at the time against BTRC’s decision, Nishat said, “The cancellation of Citycell’s licence was a political decision by the government. The court would not have ruled against the government’s decision. That’s why we did not file a petition in court back then.”
When asked whether it would be possible to relaunch Citycell with its significant debt if BTRC reinstated the licence, Nishat responded that despite the shutdown, the company has not defaulted on any bank loans.
Citycell eyes transition to GSM technology
He further said that if the licence is restored, the owners are prepared to transition Citycell from CDMA to GSM technology to resume operations.
Asked by the news reporter, Aminul Haque, acting chairman of the BTRC, declined to comment on the receipt of the letter or the matter of returning the licence.
On 9 September 2022, all spectrum allocated to Citycell and the Radio Communication Equipment Licence was cancelled on 7 August of the same year. Subsequently, on 15 September 2023, the BTRC cancelled Citycell’s 2G service licence.
According to officials concerned, during the tenure of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Citycell was granted a licence in 1989. The service was launched jointly by Hong Kong-based Hutchison and Bangladesh Telecom Limited. They used analogue mobile technology. The mobile service was highly expensive and not accessible to the general public.
When the BNP came to power, in 1993, the domestic industrial group Pacific Motors and Far East Telecom acquired a 55% stake in Citycell. Of the stake, Pacific Motors held 37.95% and Far East Telecom held 17.51%. The remaining 44.54% of the shares were owned by Singtel, a Singapore-based telecommunications provider. The head of Pacific Motors is former foreign minister and BNP leader M Morshed Khan.
Before Grameenphone acquired its licence in November 1996, Citycell was the sole mobile operator in the country.
Corporate
China Invites Youth from Bangladesh and Other Countries to Join “AI World Heritage & Zheng He Legacy” Poster Competition
Young people from Bangladesh and countries along the historic Maritime Silk Road have been invited to participate in the international creative poster design competition titled “AI World Heritage & Zheng He Legacy,” which aims to promote cultural exchange, world heritage awareness, and the enduring spirit of the famed Chinese navigator Zheng He.
Organized to commemorate the historical legacy of Zheng He and strengthen people-to-people ties among countries connected by the Maritime Silk Road, the competition encourages participants to use artificial intelligence and digital creativity to explore the relationship between world heritage sites and maritime history.
More than 600 years ago, Zheng He, a renowned Chinese explorer from Yunnan Province, led seven historic voyages across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. His journeys passed through the Strait of Malacca, crossed the Indian Ocean, and reached the eastern coast of Africa, facilitating trade, cultural exchange, and friendship among diverse civilizations.
The competition is open to young people from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries. Eligible participants include university students, young designers, cultural and creative professionals, and individuals engaged in heritage conservation and cultural development.
Participants are required to create posters incorporating at least one UNESCO World Heritage element from their own country. For Bangladesh, eligible heritage sites include the Sundarbans and the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur. Designers may also draw inspiration from Zheng He’s voyages and heritage sites in other countries along the Maritime Silk Road.
The organizers encourage the use of AI tools in the creative process, although traditional drawing techniques and design software may also be incorporated. Participants must submit a design statement explaining their creative inspiration, the use of AI technology, and the significance of the selected heritage elements.
The submission period will run from June 6 to July 10, 2026, followed by a judging phase from July 11 to July 25. Winning works will be showcased in online exhibitions in China, while selected offline exhibitions will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A professional jury comprising heritage experts, cultural institution leaders, university scholars, and media representatives will evaluate entries based on cultural authenticity, artistic expression, technical quality, and communication effectiveness.
The competition offers attractive prizes, including a First Prize of RMB 3,000, three Second Prizes of RMB 1,000 each, five Third Prizes of RMB 500 each, and twenty Excellence Awards. Winners will receive certificates, while Excellence Award-winning works will be featured in offline exhibitions.
Participation is free of charge, and there is no limit on the number of submissions. Entries must be submitted digitally in JPG, JPEG, or PNG format and sent to the official email address chinanewsyn@163.com.
Organizers expressed hope that the initiative will strengthen cultural dialogue among nations, enhance appreciation of world heritage, and inspire young people to use innovative technologies to tell stories of shared history and friendship across borders.
Corporate
International Lei Feng Spirit Promotion Team from Sanming University Visits Liedong Middle School for Cultural Exchange
In a vibrant display of cross-cultural friendship and shared values, the International Lei Feng Spirit Promotion Team from Sanming University was invited to Liedong Middle School in Sanming City on the afternoon of March 25. The visit coincided with the launch ceremony for the third season of The Glow Project: Youth in Community Service and the presentation of the fourth phase results for the “7+1” Diverse Ethnic Fusion Second Classroom.
Foreign teachers and international students joined local middle school students in a lively gathering that interpreted Lei Feng’s spirit through a global lens while fostering dialogue on Chinese and international cultures. The event created a harmonious melody of youth-driven kindness and cultural integration.
This event successfully integrated the promotion of Lei Feng’s spirit with an international perspective, breathing new life into the spirit through cross-cultural exchange. By leveraging the platforms of The Glow Project: Youth in Community Service and the “7+1” Diverse Ethnic Fusion Second Classroom, it further strengthened inter-school cooperation between Sanming University and Liedong Middle School. The activity also deepened mutual understanding and friendship among Chinese and foreign youth, as well as among young people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, a Bangladeshi foreign teacher and head of the International Lei Feng Spirit Promotion Team at Sanming University, led the team’s participation throughout the activity. He delivered an inspiring speech titled “Small Actions, Big Impact: How Can We Be Like Lei Feng — A Global Perspective?” Drawing on personal experiences and real-life examples, He illustrated the enduring vitality of Lei Feng’s spirit on modern campuses and in international exchanges. He also emphasised the core values of selfless dedication and willingness to help others, noting that Lei Feng’s spirit is not only a treasure of Chinese culture but also a universally admired quality cherished by humanity. The speech resonated deeply with teachers and students in attendance.
International students from Sanming University also stepped forward enthusiastically to share stories about their home countries’ unique cultures, customs, and traditions. They engaged in warm interactions with Liedong Middle School students, who in turn shared insights about China’s excellent traditional culture and the distinctive cultures of various ethnic groups. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious, successfully building a bridge for Sino-foreign cultural communication and multi-ethnic cultural integration.
Participants expressed their commitment to using this exchange as an opportunity to carry forward Lei Feng’s spirit. They pledged to spread warmth through small acts of kindness, serve as ambassadors of cultural exchange, and let their youth shine brightly through dedication and cultural blending.
The event highlighted how Lei Feng’s legacy of helping others continues to inspire young people across borders and cultures, contributing to a shared sense of national and global harmony.
The new Executive Committee of Wikimedia Bangladesh, the officially recognized local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation, has been elected for the 2026–27 term. A 9-member Executive Committee was formed through a vote by members during the organization’s Annual General Meeting on January 17. Subsequently, the new leadership of the organization was determined during the committee’s first meeting on February 8.
In this committee, Tanvir Rahman has been elected as President, Md. Delwar Hossain as Secretary, and Shakil Hosen as Treasurer. The other members of the Executive Committee are Moheen Reeyad, Shabab Mustafa, Subrata Roy, Dolon Prova, Mayeenul Islam, and Tanbin Islam Siyam.
Founded by Wikipedians in Bangladesh, this organization was recognized as the 39th chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation on October 3, 2011. Later, on June 9, 2014, it was registered as a non-profit foundation in Bangladesh under the Societies Registration Act.
Wikimedia Bangladesh believes in the vision of a world where every human being can share in the sum of all human knowledge. Considering the right to education and knowledge as a human right, this organization works toward the creation, collection, and dissemination of open knowledge at all levels of society. Although the content of Wikipedia and other Wiki projects is created by volunteers, the organization’s goal is to encourage this unique community in digital volunteering and support them in achieving their objectives.
