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.
China Correspondent: A new chapter in Guangxi’s tourism development unfolded on Dec 2, as a themed flight from Beijing touched down at Nanning Wuxu International Airport.
The flight’s arrival marked the official launch of a joint tourism initiative, “The Next Station, Guangxi,” by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Air China, and China Daily, aiming to showcase Guangxi’s spectacular karst landscapes, ethnic traditions, and local charm to global travelers.
Air China’s Flight CA1311 functioned as a “flying cultural experience of Guangxi”, giving passengers an immersive sneak peek into the region’s unique appeal.
From check-in to landing, travelers were surrounded by Guangxi’s cultural elements: dedicated service counters with Guangxi-themed backdrops for photo opportunities, custom-made bilingual boarding passes that doubled as collectibles, and cabin interiors adorned with stickers featuring the region’s iconic landscapes and ethnic patterns.
In-flight entertainment systems looped promotional videos, allowing passengers to glimpse the “unmatched natural and cultural beauty” awaiting them in Guangxi.
Over the next seven days, a delegation of international and domestic travel influencers, vloggers, and media journalists will embark on an exploratory tour of Guangxi’s key attractions.
Their itinerary includes experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Nanning’s night markets, where the city’s “night economy” thrives; visiting Hechi’s Bama — a world-renowned “longevity town” — to uncover the secrets of healthy living.
Then they’ll travel to Yizhou in Hechi, the hometown of legendary folk singer Liu Sanjie, to listen to melodious local mountain songs; and explore Guilin’s iconic karst mountains and rivers, which have inspired poets and artists for centuries.
Beyond the Beijing-Nanning route, tailored themed flights connecting Shanghai and Guangzhou to Guangxi are also in the pipeline. These routes will create seamless transfer options for international travelers via China’s major aviation hubs, further facilitating access to the region.
To enhance the appeal of traveling to Guangxi, a series of practical incentives has been rolled out.
Individual travelers who book Air China transfer tickets to Guangxi by December 31, 2025, can enjoy an exclusive 4 to 8 percent discount for travel before March 26, 2026. Specific terms and conditions are available through Air China’s official channels.
Travel agencies can access subsidies until January 5, 2026. Eligible firms organizing inbound groups via charters or block bookings qualify for up to 70,000 yuan ($9,660) per charter, or 700 yuan per person for groups of five or more from overseas and China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions.
In Bangladesh, mental health remains a deeply stigmatized and often overlooked issue.
Despite growing global awareness, discussions around depression, emotional trauma, or
suicide are still avoided in most Bangladeshi communities. In this environment of silence,
one youth-led initiative is creating space for dialogue, understanding, and healing. That
initiative is Talk Hope, a national mental health awareness and suicide prevention
movement founded by Md Saddam Hossain Roni under his organization SHADOW —
Society for Humanity And Development Over the World.
The story of Talk Hope begins with tragedy. On February 27, 2024, a dedicated and
promising volunteer of SHADOW took their own life. The loss was devastating, shaking the
entire organization and especially Roni, who had built a close-knit community of young
changemakers. Grieving and searching for answers, Roni realized that despite their
humanitarian efforts, they had missed signs of someone silently suffering. Just two days
later, on February 29, 2024, he launched Talk Hope — a project born from loss, committed
to ensuring that no other young person feels unseen, unheard, or alone.
Talk Hope is designed as a sustainable, youth-led platform for suicide prevention, mental
health awareness, emotional support, and psychological first aid. It trains volunteers to
listen empathetically, provides virtual peer support sessions, and organizes educational
workshops and awareness seminars both online and in communities. The initiative engages
with schools, universities, and local organizations to build a culture of open mental health
dialogue — replacing stigma with sensitivity and silence with support.
Understanding the importance of responsible and informed intervention, Roni undertook a
series of global certifications to build his own capacity and shape the initiative around
evidence-based approaches. He completed a Psychological First Aid certification from Johns
Hopkins University, a course on Gender Analytics from the University of Toronto, and an
Introduction to Psychology from Yale University. These courses helped lay a solid
foundation for Talk Hope, where empathy is backed by expertise.
To further strengthen the project’s capacity, Talk Hope works in collaboration with the
Bangladesh Psychological Association (BPA). Many licensed psychologists from BPA
voluntarily support the platform by helping train its youth volunteers, guiding emotional
support protocols, supervising psychological first aid cases, and conducting expert sessions.
This professional backing has added significant credibility and impact to the initiative.
Before founding Talk Hope, Roni had already earned recognition as a youth leader and
social activist. Born on May 7, 1994, in Cumilla, he began his journey in service through
Rotary International, where he rose through various youth leadership roles. Over the years,
he founded SHADOW, an organization working in disaster relief, education, youth
leadership, and human rights. He is a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF +6), recipient of the Rotary
Youth Leadership All-Star 2017 (Top 5 globally) recognition, and serves as Chief Adviser of
the Rotary Interact Alumni Association of South Asia. His leadership also extends to
professional roles, including as Brand Development Officer at Sthapona Architectural
Consultants Ltd., and CEO of SHADOW IT.
Roni’s vision is not just to lead — but to empower. Through Talk Hope, he and his team
hope to normalize mental health conversations, foster peer-based support systems, and
help build an emotionally resilient generation. He believes that the youth of Bangladesh
have the strength to support one another — if only they are given the tools and space to do
so.
"Hope is not a slogan," says Roni. "It's a bridge between silence and survival. We are simply
building that bridge — one conversation at a time."
Looking ahead, Talk Hope plans to launch a national mental health web portal, establish
mental health clubs in schools and universities, build a stronger counselor referral network,
and collaborate with more public and private institutions to take mental health advocacy to
every corner of the country.
From a moment of unbearable grief emerged a mission of healing. Today, Talk Hope stands
as a beacon for countless young people — reminding them that being vulnerable is not
weakness, and seeking help is an act of courage.
Last week, Kunming, Yunnan, played host to the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, a significant gathering that brought together over 200 influential figures from more than ten countries, including China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal. Dignitaries, diplomats, and representatives from the business and cultural sectors convened both in-person and virtually under the theme “Join Hands for Open and Inclusive Development,” aiming to forge new avenues for regional collaboration.Since its inception in 2018, the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum has served as a crucial multilateral diplomatic platform for China, South Asian nations, and Indian Ocean Rim countries. This year’s event, co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, featured an opening ceremony, three insightful sub-forums, and various thematic discussions and interviews.
Xu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to India, highlighted the growing bond between China and South Asian countries. He noted that recent years have seen a new chapter of friendship unfold, driven by high-level exchanges, the Belt and Road Initiative, collaborations in vital livelihood sectors, and robust people-to-people connections. “We are willing to continue the time-honored friendship with South Asian countries by strengthening strategic coordination, deepening pragmatic cooperation, and expanding people-to-people exchanges, to tighten cooperation ties, and jointly grow the pie of our shared interests,” he affirmed.
Ahmed Nazim, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives, emphasized the importance of trust and mutual understanding in fostering true cooperation, citing the strong Maldives-China relationship as a testament. As an island nation, he stressed that the Maldives’ future hinges on connectivity, sustainability, and development resilience. He expressed the nation’s readiness to collaborate with China and other South Asian countries to advance open, inclusive, and sustainable regional development through enhanced connectivity, economic links, and cultural exchanges.
Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka, shared his country’s focus on transitioning to green energy, coastal ecological conservation, and sustainable agricultural development. Recognizing China’s leadership in these areas, he expressed optimism for deeper cooperation.
The forum also welcomed a perspective from beyond South Asia. Abdullah Al Saleh, Under Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy, highlighted the deep and enduring cooperation between the UAE and China in economic, technological, and cultural spheres. He noted that China is the UAE’s largest global trading partner, while the UAE is China’s largest export market and second-largest trading partner in the Middle East. Al Saleh expressed a strong desire to further collaboration with China and South Asian nations in emerging fields such as smart logistics, digital trade, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture.
