One Asia Alliance is accused of massive tax evasion and regulatory breaches, threatening Bangladesh’s telecom stability and bandwidth security.
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| Dhaka-based One Asia Alliance faces telecom license scrutiny over tax evasion, unpaid dues, and mismanagement, sparking calls for regulatory reform. Image: CH |
DHAKA, Bangladesh — May 21, 2025:
One Asia Alliance Communications is facing serious allegations of tax evasion, regulatory violations, and massive unpaid dues that have placed Bangladesh’s telecommunications infrastructure at risk. The company is accused of exploiting political connections and weak regulatory enforcement to obtain and retain critical telecom licenses while defaulting on payments owed to both government agencies and international bandwidth providers.
Sources close to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) report that the company has failed to pay over Tk 230 million in dues. BTRC is reportedly owed around Tk 40 million, while BSCCL is seeking more than Tk 10 million. In the private sector, telecom giants Airtel and Tata Communications have demanded payments of approximately Tk 130 million and Tk 50 million respectively. Following failed recovery attempts, BSCCL pursued legal action, winning an arbitration case and filing an execution case that is still underway.
Despite holding licenses for International Internet Gateway (IIG), International Terrestrial Cable (ITC), and International Gateway (IGW), One Asia Alliance is accused of repeatedly violating license terms. The company also allegedly obtained regulatory approvals through political pressure. One of its subsidiaries, Bengal Broadband, received a divisional ISP license in 2016 but has continued operations without renewal. Another arm of the company, Prisma Digital Network, holds a nationwide ISP license and is now under scrutiny for compliance failures.
When approached for comment, Asfaria Khair, Managing Director of Bengal Communication—the parent company of One Asia Alliance—did not respond to phone calls, WhatsApp messages, or SMS inquiries. The journalist’s number was later found to be blocked.
According to a senior BTRC official, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued to One Asia Alliance on the condition that the company pay 50 percent of its total dues up front, with the remaining amount to be settled in installments. However, the company has only paid Tk 10 million so far, falling short of the required Tk 13.8 million initial payment.
The situation has drawn strong criticism from industry leaders and anti-corruption watchdogs. Imdadul Haque, President of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), warned that the integrity of ISP services is directly tied to the performance and accountability of bandwidth providers. He noted that failure to enforce financial and regulatory discipline at the core infrastructure level jeopardizes stable connectivity for millions of users.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman emphasized the need for impartial investigation and enforcement. He said that to uphold transparency and rule of law, the government must review the practices of telecom operators and take fair, decisive action against those involved in policy violations and financial misconduct.
Aslam Hossain, Managing Director of BSCCL, said the company has gone silent after repeated demands for payment. With no replies to formal notices, legal action became the only remaining option.
Foyez Ahmed Tayub, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology, stressed the government's zero-tolerance policy on telecom fraud. He stated that while the government supports a healthy business environment, it will not shield any company that fails to meet its financial and legal obligations.
The mounting scandal around One Asia Alliance has intensified public scrutiny of regulatory gaps in Bangladesh’s telecom sector. As international partners grow wary, the integrity of the country’s digital infrastructure and the effectiveness of its oversight institutions now face critical tests.