Global Institutions Engagement · MEA · TikTok

Ferdous MottakinBuilding trusted digital public policy across emerging markets.

An engineer-turned-regulator-turned-platform executive, working at the intersection of telecommunications, technology governance, and public institutions across South Asia, the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa.

Read Policy Insights Media & Keynote Request

Executive Leadership

Ferdous Mottakin

Global Institutions Engagement · MEA · TikTok

South Asia

Regional Footprint

Spearheading public policy, government affairs, and regulatory strategy across 5 South Asian markets including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives.

5 Yrs

Public Policy Leadership

Over 5 years of distinguished executive leadership operating at the intersection of international government relations, telecommunications, digital governance, and tech policy.

10 Yrs GSMA

Global Industry Leadership

Spent a decade driving Mobile for Development (M4D) initiatives, digital inclusion frameworks, and mobile technology policy across emerging markets at GSMA.

About

From signal towers to statecraft.

A career built on one throughline: making complex technology work responsibly for the people and institutions that depend on it.

Ferdous Al Mottakin began as a telecommunications engineer, training in Electrical & Electronics Engineering at Simon Fraser University, and cut his teeth in network operations at Sprint and Onetel before leading Huawei's PMO for the Telenor account across the South Pacific.

A decade at GSMA in the UK — spanning the Development Fund, Green Power for Mobile, and market engagement across the APAC region — shifted his focus from infrastructure to impact: connectivity, energy access, and digital inclusion for underserved communities.

That grounding led into regulatory affairs at edotco Bangladesh, and from there into platform governance at TikTok — first as Bangladesh's public policy lead, then heading South Asia, and today engaging global institutions across the Middle East, Eurasia & Africa.

Telecom Engineering

Infrastructure & Network Operations

Sprint, Onetel, Huawei — hands-on foundations in mobile network delivery.

Development & Access

Connectivity for Underserved Markets

A decade at GSMA driving mobile-for-development programmes across APAC.

Regulatory Affairs

Telecom Policy & Compliance

Head of Regulatory Affairs, edotco Bangladesh — bridging industry and regulators.

Platform Governance

Public Policy & Government Relations

Leading TikTok's institutional engagement across South Asia and MEA.

Selected impact

Work that shows up in public

A curated set of engagements with governments, regulators, and communities.

Bangladesh · 2025

Digital Safety Summit with BTRC

Co-hosted national dialogue on youth safety, literacy, and responsible platform use.

Sri Lanka · 2024

Presidential election integrity

Election Centre, fact-checker partnerships, and civic-information safeguards ahead of a national vote.

Bangladesh & Sri Lanka · 2025

STEM Feed launches

In-app science and technology learning spaces launched with government partners.

Nepal · 2026

Election Commission MoU

Formal partnership to curb election misinformation and surface authoritative voting information.

Sri Lanka · 2025

Crisis search guidance

Flood-related search guide connecting users to Disaster Management Centre resources.

Career Arc

Two decades, one direction.

From telecom network operations to platform governance — two decades across the public and private sectors in international bodies, regulators, and global tech platforms.

TikTok

4 yrs 8 mos

Jan 2022 – PresentDubai, United Arab Emirates

Public PolicyGovernment RelationsRegulatory StrategyDigital Governance

Leading government relations, global institutional engagement, public policy strategy, and digital safety frameworks across Middle East, Eurasia, Africa, and South Asia.

Key Impact Highlights

First Bangladeshi national appointed to lead the South Asia public policy division for a major global social media platform.
Pioneered formal MoUs and operational partnerships with regional Election Commissions to uphold election integrity and combat digital misinformation.
Overseeing government engagement and policy strategy across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives.

Axiata (edotco Group)

1 yr 1 mo

Dec 2020 – Dec 2021Dhaka, Bangladesh

Public PolicyGovernment RelationsTelecom InfrastructureRegulatory Affairs

Directed regulatory policy, tower infrastructure licensing, spectrum compliance, and government relations for Asia's largest telecom infrastructure provider.

Key Impact Highlights

Led tower co-location policy discussions with Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Ministry of Telecom.
Advised on green tower infrastructure, spectrum policy, and cross-operator infrastructure sharing.

GSMA

10 yrs

Feb 2010 – Jan 2020United Kingdom & APAC Region

Strategic PartnershipsPublic PolicyDigital InclusionTelecommunicationsMobile for Development

A decade-long tenure at GSMA driving Mobile for Development (M4D) market engagement, digital inclusion, spectrum policy, and strategic operator partnerships across APAC and global markets.

Key Impact Highlights

Orchestrated multi-country Mobile for Development (M4D) programs, expanding digital inclusion and mobile financial services across Asia-Pacific.
Spearheaded public-private stakeholder roundtables connecting mobile operators, regulatory agencies, and multilateral development funds.

Huawei

2 yrs 10 mos

May 2007 – Feb 2010South Pacific Region

TelecommunicationsPMO LeadershipProject OperationsVendor Management

Managed PMO project operations, large-scale telecommunications infrastructure deployment, and technical deliverables for major telecom operator accounts including Telenor.

Onetel

1 yr 10 mos

Aug 2005 – May 2007Bangladesh

TelecommunicationsNetwork InfrastructureEngineering

Spearheaded technical engineering specialization, network performance optimization, and telecommunications infrastructure operations.

Sprint

5 mos

Jan 2004 – May 2004Canada

TelecommunicationsResearch & DevelopmentWireless Networks

Conducted research and development in wireless telecommunication protocols and next-generation network systems.

Entrepreneurship

Ventures & advisory ties

An origin story rooted in building things directly — carried forward today as advisory involvement rather than day-to-day operating roles.

Your Trip Mate

Business innovation hub empowering startups across digital inclusion.

VISAThing

Visa processing support and travel-tech solutions from Bangladesh.

VISAThing for Student

Specialized education consulting and student visa services globally.

UniClient Technologies

SaaS and software solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Marketearz

Creative digital marketing, social media, and brand growth.

Views Bangladesh

Daily news and current-affairs platform covering Bangladesh.

Wage

Digital platform venture within the Your Trip Mate ecosystem.

Cookants Fresh

Fresh grocery delivery with quality-controlled doorstep service.

Offroad Bangladesh

Connecting travelers with attractions, culture, and trips across Bangladesh.

Thought Leadership & Policy Papers

Latest Insights & Analytical Briefs

Published policy briefs, whitepapers, and opinion pieces examining digital safety, sovereign AI regulation, and South Asian tech policy.

Digital Governance

8 min read

Published in: South Asia Policy Review & Global Digital Forum • 2026-07-14

An executive perspective on how emerging South Asian digital regulations are reshaping online safety, cross-border data governance, and public-private tech diplomacy.

#Public Policy#South Asia#Digital Safety

Data Policy & Sovereignty

6 min read

Published in: Journal of Asian International Affairs • 2026-05-20

A practical analysis of data localization proposals vs cross-border trade imperatives, establishing interoperable data privacy standards across emerging economies.

#Data Localization#Privacy#Digital Economy

AI Regulation

7 min read

Published in: Global Tech Policy Digest • 2026-03-11

Moving from high-level AI ethics principles to actionable algorithmic risk assessments, safety filters, and inclusive regional AI models.

#AI Ethics#Algorithmic Transparency#Public Policy

On screen

Television & video appearances

Broadcast interviews and talk-show segments across Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

News 1stFace to Face

The Responsible Use Of Social Media

Social media responsibility · November 2025 · Sri Lanka

APrIGFOpening Ceremony & Opening Plenary

APrIGF 2025 Opening Ceremony & Opening Plenary

Internet governance · 2025 · Regional

MaasrangaRanga Shokal

Ferdous Mottakin | Interview | Talk Show

Platform policy · March 2025 · Bangladesh

News24Digital Safety Summit Bangladesh

TikTok Digital Safety Summit Bangladesh

Digital safety · February 2025 · Bangladesh

Channel 24Mukto Kontho

Social media, TikTok and Bangladesh

Social media & policy · February 2025 · Bangladesh

Salman's ShowEpisode 9

TikTok policy discussion with Ferdous Mottakin

TikTok policy · Bangladesh

Photo Gallery · Media Archives

Media & Speaking Gallery

COLLECTION 01 / 02

Global Public Policy Forum - Innovation in Governance

Global Public Policy Forum · 2023

Keynote Address: Innovation in Governance & Economic Growth Strategies

Public Policy Conference · 2024

Special Address: Public Policy Initiatives & Institutional Strategy

Global Policy Forum · 2024

Ministerial Panel: Digital Governance & Policy Frameworks

Economic Policy Innovation & Global Governance Dialogue

Global Governance Dialogue · 2024

Symposium: Economic Policy Innovation & Regional Cooperation

Showing Page 1 of 2

Media & writing

In conversation and in print

Selected interviews, op-eds, and press coverage across South Asia.

Coverage

TikTok launches in-app Election Centre ahead of Bangladesh polls

The Business Standard

January 2026Read

Op-ed

A safer digital space for Sri Lankan young minds to learn, explore and create

Lanka Business News

October 2025Read

Quote

TikTok launches STEM content feed in Bangladesh

The Daily Star

October 2025Read

Coverage

TikTok introduces STEM feed in Bangladesh

The Business Standard

October 2025Read

Coverage

STEM Feed launch in Sri Lanka

Lanka Business Online

September 2025Read

Quote

Navigating the digital frontier: ensuring online safety for the next generation

The Daily Star

2025Read

Quote

Expats can register online anytime to vote; mock voting on 29 Nov: EC secretary

The Business Standard

2025Read

Interview

TikTok has no plans to open an office in Nepal at the moment, but we are focusing on localization

ICT Samachar

2025Read

Coverage

TikTok launches Family Pairing feature in Nepal to enhance teen safety

ICT Samachar

Youth SafetyRead

Executive Engagement Channel

Policy Advisory & Media Inquiry

Official communication portal for government delegations, regulatory authorities, summit organizers, and journalists engaging with Ferdous Mottakin, Global Institutions Engagement · MEA · TikTok.