Mahmudul Hasan

Dhaka

Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

BPO industry slowly embracing AI

6 days ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Bangladesh, once known solely for voice-based customer service and back-office support, is cautiously but steadily embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to stay relevant in an evolving global market. This shift was evident at the recently concluded BPO Summit Bangladesh 2025, where dozens of companies showcased their AI-powered tools and shared plans for transformation.
Starlink users report smooth service, minor issues

1 week ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

Early users of Starlink, the satellite internet service recently launched in Bangladesh, have expressed satisfaction over its high-speed and stable connection. Since the official rollout announcement on May 20 via Starlink's official X (formerly Twitter) account, customers across the country have been receiving and testing their kits, reporting download speeds between 200 Mbps and 450 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 15 Mbps to over 40 Mbps.
WB offers first loan guarantee for LNG purchase

1 week ago | thedailystar.net | Rejaul Karim Byron |Mahmudul Hasan

For the first time, the World Bank, which traditionally provides development project loans and budgetary support, has extended its assistance through a guarantee facility to support Bangladesh in purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming to ease pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves. The World Bank approved a $350 million guarantee for state-owned oil and gas company Petrobangla yesterday.
IT exports witness slight rise in July-March

2 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

Bangladesh's IT exports witnessed a slight rise in the first nine months of the current financial year, buoyed by growing global demand for AI-powered services. According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), export earnings from the IT sector rose by 12.99 percent year-on-year, reaching $458.18 million between July and March of FY 2024-25. In the same period a year earlier, exports stood at $407.07 million.
To be heard, workers' need trade unions

2 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

In a fast-changing economy like Bangladesh, the manufacturing sectors, especially RMG, underpin growth and integration into global value chains, playing a pivotal role. They employ millions, support rural-to-urban migration, and anchor the nation in global markets. Yet, beneath the clang of machines and the glow of economic progress lies a sobering reality: the persistent struggle of workers to have their voices heard and their rights protected.
Repeating mistakes: opportunity missed to make internet better

2 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

If you don't rectify past mistakes, there is no real reform—only cosmetic changes dressed as progress. This thought inevitably arises when examining what the interim government is proposing for internet users in the upcoming budget.
VAT hike deals fresh blow to local handset industry

3 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

Bangladesh's mobile phone manufacturing industry, once hailed as a potential pillar of the country's digital ambitions, is bracing for a fresh blow after the interim government proposed a hike in value-added tax (VAT) at the production stage in the national budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The move has sparked concerns among industry leaders, who warn it will drive up consumer prices, stall local production, and accelerate the growth of the grey market -- exacerbating the industry's woes.
Stability takes priority over bold reforms

3 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

Economists described the proposed FY26 budget as cautious and structurally conservative, with some commendable steps in taxation but lacking bold reforms or a clear roadmap for future development. While acknowledging the budget's efforts to preserve macroeconomic stability, analysts warned that limited incentives and reliance on outdated frameworks may deter private investment and hinder economic transformation.
Digital dreams disconnected realities

4 weeks ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

In Ferighat, a remote corner of north-eastern district Sunamganj, stationery shop owner Md Sumon Mia fights a battle that millions of rural Bangladeshis face daily – the struggle for a reliable internet connection. While Dhaka's cafes buzz with high-speed Wi-Fi, Mia's small shop, nearly an 8-hour drive from the capital, remains trapped in a digital dead zone, his repeated pleas for connectivity lost in the silence of neglected infrastructure.
Starlink signing deals with local firms to expand footprint

1 month ago | thedailystar.net | Mahmudul Hasan

Starlink is steadily consolidating its presence in Bangladesh through a series of partnership agreements with local companies, with deals spanning ground station development, colocation and data centre services, core site hosting, transmission, and international internet gateway (IIG) facilities. The Daily Star spoke to half a dozen individuals, including officials from companies involved in these partnerships.