Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with Augie Fabela, Chairman of Veon, the parent company of mobile network operator Banglalink, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the National Parliament Building on Monday morning.
The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, Veon Board Member Michel Sweating, and Banglalink Chief Executive Officer Johan Hendrik Martinus Buse.
The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Shahadat Hossain Swadhin, confirmed the meeting and said discussions focused on expanding access to digital services and enhancing digital inclusion across the country.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called on Banglalink to take initiatives that would make smartphones more affordable and accessible to consumers. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that people from all socio-economic backgrounds can benefit from smartphone technology and digital connectivity.
The Prime Minister also urged the telecom operator to explore ways to reduce internet costs further, making online services more affordable for the general public. He noted that lower internet prices and wider smartphone adoption would help accelerate the country’s digital transformation and expand access to technology-driven opportunities.
The discussion highlighted the government’s commitment to improving digital accessibility and strengthening collaboration with private-sector stakeholders to support the growth of Bangladesh’s digital economy.
