News Desk

In a significant development, the interim government of Bangladesh has decided to terminate its internet bandwidth transit agreement with India. The agreement, which had allowed India to route its internet traffic through Bangladesh to the country’s northeastern states, was officially canceled by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Telecommunications.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the decision was made due to the lack of “economic benefits” from the agreement. The arrangement, which had been in place for several years, allowed India to use Bangladesh’s infrastructure as a transit point to provide broadband services to its northeastern regions, which are geographically separated from the rest of the country.

The cancellation marks a turning point in the bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries in the realm of telecommunications. While Bangladesh had previously seen the agreement as a means to generate revenue and strengthen regional ties, the government now views the deal as financially unviable.

Bangladesh’s internet regulator explained that despite the technical infrastructure being in place, the transit deal failed to provide significant revenue or strategic advantage to the country. As a result, the government decided to focus on improving its domestic internet services and exploring alternative agreements that would better serve its interests.

The decision could have implications for India’s northeastern states, which have relied on Bangladesh as a key route for internet traffic. Indian authorities have yet to comment on the termination, but the move could potentially lead to disruptions or delays in internet connectivity in the region unless alternative solutions are found.

Experts believe that this development could reshape the dynamics of regional internet infrastructure and might spur India to seek new routes or agreements with other neighboring countries to ensure stable and cost-effective connectivity for its northeastern states.

This decision follows broader trends in both countries as they reassess and recalibrate their infrastructure and economic partnerships in the context of evolving geopolitical and economic landscapes. While the immediate impact remains uncertain, it signals a shift in how Bangladesh is positioning itself in regional technology and telecommunications initiatives.

As both countries continue to navigate the complexities of their economic and diplomatic relations, the cancellation of this agreement could set the stage for new negotiations and agreements in the future.