Fayez Tayeb vs Summit-Media Syndicate: Corruption Allegations or a Corporate Power Play in Disguise?
PoriPurno News Desk | July 31, 2025
A string of investigative reports jointly published by two of Bangladesh’s most influential English-language dailies—The Daily Star and Prothom Alo—has sparked significant debate in the telecommunications sector. At the heart of these reports is Fayez Tayeb, the Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, who is accused of procedural irregularities and potential corruption linked to BTCL’s 5G readiness project.
But beyond the surface-level allegations, a more critical question is emerging:
Is this really about corruption, or is it a battle over corporate dominance in Bangladesh’s telecom infrastructure market?
A Powerful Web: Media, Corporations, and Influence
The Prothom Alo is operated by Mediastar Limited, a company under the umbrella of the Transcom Group. At first glance, this appears to be a standard corporate structure. However, deeper inspection reveals that Summit Group Chairman Mohammad Aziz Khan—a powerful business figure and the elder brother of former Commerce Minister Faruk Khan—has deep historical ties with the Prothom Alo Trust, particularly its flagship project Alor Pathshala.
From 2009 to 2015, Aziz Khan served as chairman of the Trust, with Summit Group continuing to provide major financial support. While philanthropic on the surface, this connection raises concerns about the editorial independence of media outlets that rely on Summit’s funding. When such media houses report critically on BTCL—a competitor to Summit in infrastructure—it raises the specter of strategic narrative-building, not unbiased journalism.
The Infrastructure Monopoly at Stake
Summit Communications currently controls over 55,000 km of fiber optic network across Bangladesh. BTCL’s plan to expand its own fiber optic backbone—making it available to ISPs at lower rates—poses a long-term threat to Summit’s monopoly in this space. More critically, the 5G readiness project being spearheaded by Secretary Tayeb could significantly undermine Summit’s market position.
From that perspective, discrediting or delaying the project under the guise of “exposing corruption” could serve clear corporate interests.
Allegations Under the Microscope: A Closer Look
Several allegations have been raised against Fayez Tayeb, including:
- Procurement Despite Controversy
→ An L/C (Letter of Credit) for project equipment from Huawei, a globally recognized vendor, has already been issued. Delays could cost the government over Tk 140 crore, according to internal documents. - Lack of Pre-Shipment Inspection
→ BTCL lacks in-house capacity for technical pre-shipment inspections. Fayez Tayeb suggested post-shipment inspection, which is a standard practice in many public procurement projects under such constraints. - Attempting to Influence the ACC
→ A government-issued GO (Government Order) was sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), urging transparency and clarity. However, no evidence suggests unethical influence. - Overriding BUET Recommendations
→ BTCL procured additional capacity than BUET recommended. Tayeb defends this decision as future-proofing: “These network assets last 25–30 years. The excess capacity today will be essential tomorrow.”
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Media Coordination or Strategic Messaging?
Both The Daily Star and Prothom Alo ran nearly identical reports on the same day, with strikingly similar structure and headlines. This kind of coordinated release raises questions about synchronized narrative engineering rather than organic journalistic discovery.
In this context, it’s notable that Aziz Khan’s Summit Group funds both outlets in various ways, either through philanthropy or advertisement, directly or indirectly. Could this be a carefully crafted attempt to protect commercial interests under the veil of journalism?
Political Connections and Oligarchic Power
Aziz Khan is not just a business tycoon—his familial and political ties go deep. His brother, Faruk Khan, served in key ministerial roles and maintains close relations with the country’s political elite. Summit’s historical ties with the Sheikh family further reinforce the notion of an oligarchic nexus that operates behind closed doors.
This network of corporate, media, and political elites may be weaponizing corruption allegations as a tool to maintain their grip on strategic sectors like telecom.
Where Is the Interim Government?
Despite the increasing evidence of syndicated manipulation, Bangladesh’s interim government has yet to respond firmly. Without robust regulatory oversight, any future administration risks being undermined by these unelected but extremely powerful actors.
Today it’s Fayez Tayeb. Tomorrow, any policymaker or project that disrupts entrenched corporate interests may face similar orchestrated campaigns—all under the cover of anti-corruption rhetoric.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Scandal
What’s unfolding in the Fayez Tayeb episode is not simply a story of alleged corruption. It’s a proxy battle between independent policymaking and entrenched corporate control. It raises broader concerns about how public infrastructure projects are manipulated by media-backed oligarchies and corporate-political alliances.
This is not the end—this is the first act of a longer play where any threat to monopolistic control will be labeled as misconduct, and the media will act as the enforcer, not the watchdog.
While headlines scream “corruption,” an underlying corporate turf war may be quietly unfolding.
Is this a battle for transparency—or just another high-stakes grab for control?Full investigation soon on PoriPurno.com
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