Bangladesh’s current internet penetration stands at 53 percent, placing it behind regional leaders such as Bhutan at 88 percent and the Maldives at 85 percent, but broadly in line with several neighbouring countries, according to a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has threatened to suspend internet connections across the country “for hours” if double-layer value added tax (VAT), which they said increased their cost about 30 percent, is not revised.

Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) complains that the staff of mobile and internet service providers are facing restrictions from the law enforcement agencies at different places across the country.