Bangladeshi mobile operators have warned the government that network shutdowns are likely amid the ongoing fuel crisis.

In an open letter to the government this week, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) has called on ministers to ensure priority fuel supply and stable electricity for telecom infrastructure.

AMTOB is the trade association that represents Bangladesh's mobile network operators, including Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, and Teletalk.

It said that any prolonged shortage could disrupt nationwide connectivity and cripple the country’s digital economy, noting that telcos are already feeling the impact.

The ongoing war in Iran, which has seen the Strait of Hormuz blocked by Iran, has limited the export of fuel supplies from the Middle East.

An estimated 95 percent of Bangladesh's energy is imported, according to Reuters, with the majority of its fuel coming from the Middle East. Because of the crisis, Bangladesh has even sought a temporary sanctions waiver to import Russian ​diesel.

As noted by AMTOB, storms have also hit Bangladesh causing power outages, meaning that restoration times have been longer than usual.

"In this context, the industry is now urgently seeking a comprehensive support framework that includes priority and uninterrupted fuel supply for core network locations, assured fuel availability for Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites operated by the four mobile operators and four tower companies, dedicated fuel allocation for maintenance transport, reduced load shedding at critical telecom facilities and the fastest possible restoration of REB power following storms and weather-related disruptions," stated AMTOB.

Bangladesh's telecom network infrastructure is made up of approximately 45,000 towers, multiple operator‑owned data centers, Network Operations Centers (NOCs), plus other network components, serving 185 million people.

As pointed out by AMTOB, the country's networks are heavily dependent on diesel and petrol-powered generators - particularly during power outages, load shedding, and natural disasters.

AMTOB said telcos are the lifeline of the country's economy and warned the government that failure to ensure uninterrupted connectivity could have a significantly negative impact on Bangladesh's economy.

"Therefore, MNOs urgently call on the government to take necessary measures to ensure adequate fuel and electricity supply to maintain uninterrupted telecom operations, safeguard nationwide network availability, and provide stable, continuous communication services for the people of Bangladesh," it said.