Bangladesh Bank has issued a circular permitting mobile operators in the country to receive roaming service payments from residents abroad in Taka, the local currency, under specific conditions. This initiative is designed to simplify the process for residents traveling overseas and seeking roaming services.
Under the new rule, each customer can pay up to Tk 6,000 per trip and a total of Tk 30,000 annually for roaming services, regardless of the number of mobile operators used. To activate roaming, customers must provide a valid visa (if required) and travel ticket, and the service should be activated at least one week before departure.
For mobile operators to remit payments to foreign network partners, authorised foreign exchange dealers are tasked with handling the remittance process. They must verify documents such as agreements, invoices, proof of tax payments, and customer earnings before remitting the amounts. Additionally, operators must ensure that roaming charges in Taka do not exceed the limits set by the central bank.
The move has been praised by telecom officials, with Robi Axiata PLC’s chief corporate and regulatory officer, Shahed Alam, applauding the decision to eliminate the credit card requirement for international roaming. He believes the initiative will help retain significant revenue within the country and strengthen the telecommunications sector.
Robi also expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission for their ongoing support of this initiative.
