Shahriar Rahman

Engineer-turned-Journalist, Shahriar Rahman has a strong knowledge of all things digital. He started his career working in the telecom industry but later switched to media and journalism to follow his passion of 'playing with gadgets' for a living. Shahriar did his Master's in Global Media & Communication from the University of Warwick as a Chevening Scholar. He also holds an MBA from IBA, University of Dhaka, and a Masters in Engineering from AIUB. Shahriar is a State Department Fellow with the University of Oklahoma. He is currently the Editor of Toggle- the tech, career, automobile publication of The Daily Star.

Bangladesh’s 5G moment: promise, challenges, and the road ahead

On September 1, 2025, Bangladesh formally entered the 5G era when Robi Axiata became the first operator to switch on commercial fifth-generation services in select areas of Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.

20 January 2026, 06:05 AM

5G for Bangladesh: Navigating between high hopes and hard realities

As Bangladesh enthusiastically gears up for the advent of 5G technology, a centrepiece of its Vision Smart Bangladesh 2041, the mood is a mix of optimism and caution. The transition to 5G is not just an upgrade in telecommunications; it represents a significant technological leap. This leap, however, is fraught with complexities that demand a thorough, objective examination.

17 February 2024, 18:00 PM

Next Step / Women's empowerment and equality in the digital space

The Daily Star recently had a conversation with Sajjab Hasib, Chief Marketing Officer at Grameenphone on gender equality, the empowerment of women, and how these factors influence the telecom industry.

24 August 2023, 10:52 AM

Bytes / Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The ultimate ultra

Samsung's latest flagship, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, takes centre stage as a powerful contender in the smartphone market. While some might argue that the design changes are subtle and the price tag is on the higher side, there's no denying that this device excels in certain key areas, especially when it comes to photography.

28 July 2023, 04:00 AM

Editor's Note / Embracing the inevitable

And thus, we invite our readers to embark on the next exhilarating journey with Tech & Startup!

28 July 2023, 03:15 AM

Hackers feast on government sites

With the general election around the corner, data leaks and cyberattacks have intensified alarmingly, with the latest being a suspected leak of five crore citizens’ data from the Office of the Registrar General, Birth & Death Registration (BDRIS).

8 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Over 5 crore Bangladeshi citizens' data 'remains exposed' online

The leaked data includes names, birth dates, and National Identification (NID) numbers of over 50 million users which is alledgedly easily accessible through a simple Google search

8 July 2023, 05:56 AM

Bytes / Samsung Galaxy A54: The newest A Game in town

The Samsung Galaxy A54 stands tall as a formidable mid-range smartphone that strikes a balance between elegant design, reliable performance, and exceptional camera capabilities.

23 June 2023, 03:40 AM

Bringing the world to Bangladesh

Seeing the potential of this happening country, Sekai Lab, a Japanese global IT outsourcing startup, chose to launch their 15th offshore operation here, in Bangladesh. Next Step got in touch with Hiroki Inagawa, CEO of Sekai Lab, to talk about his game plan for Bangladesh.

20 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Review: ACI Stylus O65

ACI is the latest entrant in the list of Bangladesh smartphone brands and with their first line up of devices, seems to be determined to wreak havoc in the market. And its flagship device Stylus 065 is on the forefront. How well does it play, let's find it out:

16 August 2015, 18:00 PM

GES 2015: Ushering in an entrepreneurial era

If you have been following what's happening around the globe lately, then surely you have come across the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).

30 July 2015, 18:00 PM

Is PayPal Really Coming To Bangladesh?

If you are really in hurry then the short answer: NO, not anytime soon.

26 July 2015, 18:00 PM

REVIEW: Walton Walpad Pro

We get tons of emails from our readers asking for a single device with the mobility of a tablet but with the convenience of a PC. To

26 July 2015, 18:00 PM

Venture capital 101

Bangladesh is now home to a growing startup scene. With all the exciting startups in the play, venture capital firms are being lured in.

9 July 2015, 18:00 PM

Microsoft Lumia 540: Vivid Midranger

Just 2 months after the launch of Lumia 640XL, Microsoft is back with another midrange phone for the Bangladeshi market: Lumia 540. This phone comes with a price-tag of Tk 13,999 and is the successor to the market winner Lumia 535. Does this phone live up to its predecessor? Let's find out.

21 June 2015, 18:00 PM

Serving the finest in F&B

Next Step interviews the Managing Director of Watercress, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed

11 June 2015, 18:00 PM

Internet.org & Net Neutrality: What Facebook has to say

Markku Makelainen, Director of Global Operator Partnerships of Facebook sat for a very brief yet exclusive interview with BYTES and talked about Facebook & Internet.org's stance on Net Neutrality.

7 June 2015, 18:00 PM

Hands On Review: Symphony Xplorer H150 - The Marathon Runner

We observed something: Symphony's smartphones tend to arrive in packs, especially when they sport a unique feature. This time there was no exception.

10 May 2015, 18:00 PM

Chit-chat with Startup Cup founder Sean Griffin

On the occasion of the grand finale of Bangladesh Startup Cup, Sean flew in Dhaka to have a hands-on experience of the local startup culture. During his trip in Bangladesh he talked about his passion, mission and vision with Shahriar Rahman from Next Step.

7 May 2015, 18:00 PM