Sakhawat Hossain operates a small travel agency in a modest room on DIT Road, Fakirapool, Dhaka. His office contains only a table and three chairs, with a monthly rent of six thousand taka. Sakhawat himself resides in a shared accommodation in the same area.  

Yet, according to documents from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Sakhawat is listed as a partner and managing director (MD) of a prominent International Gateway (IGW) company called K-Telecom, later renamed International Voice Tel Ltd. IGWs facilitate international phone calls to Bangladesh. K-Telecom owes BTRC more than 126 crore taka, prompting the commission to file lawsuits against its listed owners to recover the dues.  

The question arises: how did Sakhawat, who leads a modest life, become associated with such a major company? When asked during a visit to his office on December 17, Sakhawat shared his bewilderment: *“I had no idea I was an owner. On October 18, BTRC officials, accompanied by police from Rangunia, visited my village home. That’s when I first heard about the company and my supposed ownership.”*  

K-Telecom was originally owned by the family of Shamim Osman, a former Member of Parliament and Awami League leader from Narayanganj. The IGW license was issued in 2012 in the names of Shamim Osman’s wife, Salma Osman, and son, Imtinan Osman, for a 15-year term. Other shareholders included Shamim Osman’s brother-in-law, Tanvir Ahmed, along with close associates Zainal Abedin Molla and Jahangir Hossain Molla.  

Records reveal that on August 4, 2013, the Osman family transferred K-Telecom’s ownership to Sakhawat Hossain, schoolteacher Debabrata Chowdhury from Sylhet, and office assistant Rakibul Islam from Bogura. All three have denied any involvement, claiming they were fraudulently listed as owners without their knowledge.  

According to BTRC and related sources, the Osman family hurriedly transferred ownership to these individuals to avoid paying government dues. They allegedly used forged documents and fake photographs to execute the transfer, with the collusion of certain government agencies.  

Following the fall of the Awami League government after the July uprising on August 5, Shamim Osman and his family have gone into hiding. Attempts to obtain his comments were unsuccessful.  

BTRC’s Unpaid Dues  

After the Awami League came to power in 2009, numerous licenses were issued in the telecommunications sector. At the time, international call routing was highly profitable. Several leaders, including Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shamsul Haque Tuku, and Shamim Osman, acquired IGW licenses. Licensees were required to pay fees and share a portion of revenue with BTRC. However, many politically connected operators failed to pay their dues and eventually shut down their businesses, leaving BTRC with unpaid dues of over 921 crore taka across six companies.  

BTRC filed a case against K-Telecom on June 22, 2014, to recover the dues. In 2023 and 2024, officials visited the homes of the "new owners" listed in company documents.  

One of them, Rakibul Islam, an office assistant from Adamdighi, Bogura, told *Prothom Alo* he was unaware of how he became an owner. From 2006 to 2017, he worked at a garment factory in Savar, Dhaka, and now earns a modest salary at a private contracting firm. Rakibul believes his National ID (NID) was used fraudulently, as it was also used to open unauthorized mobile financial service accounts.  

Similarly, schoolteacher Debabrata Chowdhury from Sylhet’s MC Academy was arrested in February 2023 at BTRC’s request. However, student protests led to his release the following day. Debabrata, who has been teaching at MC Academy since 2003, lives with his wife in a rented two-room apartment in Sylhet.  

Ownership Transfer Process  

The transfer of company ownership requires approval from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC). For telecom license holders, additional clearance is needed from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications via BTRC.  

When asked about the verification of K-Telecom’s ownership transfer, BTRC stated in a written response that the transfer was approved following proper procedures and government consent.  

However, internal sources within BTRC allege the process was expedited without proper scrutiny. A detailed review could have exposed the use of forged photographs. BTRC is also responsible for verifying the financial capabilities of new owners.  

RJSC officials noted that at the time, ownership transfers required submission of all necessary documents, including government approval and signatures from all parties. These steps were reportedly followed in this case as well.  

Expert Insights  

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and corporate law expert Ahsanul Karim pointed out that BTRC was obligated to verify the documents. He stated, *“It seems ownership was intentionally transferred to individuals unaware of the business, making them victims of fraud. This highlights the misuse of political power for personal gain.”*  

BTRC’s 2014 lawsuit did not mention the ownership transfer and instead pursued the new "owners." Despite widespread knowledge of the Osman family’s involvement, police visits targeted innocent individuals.  

 A Case of Multifaceted Corruption