Bulk SMS in Bangladesh lets a business send one message to hundreds or thousands of mobile numbers at once, on Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel, Banglalink and Teletalk. You can send it from your brand name (masking) or a regular number (non-masking), in English or Bangla, from a web dashboard or through an API. This guide explains how it works, what the rules are, and how to choose a provider.
What is bulk SMS?
Bulk SMS means sending text messages to many recipients through an SMS gateway instead of a personal phone. The gateway connects to mobile operators and hands your messages to their networks. You upload or select a list of numbers, write the message, and the platform sends it to everyone on the list.
Businesses in Bangladesh use bulk SMS because almost every customer has a mobile phone, and SMS works on every handset, smart or basic, without internet data or an app. It is one of the most direct ways to reach a customer.
What can a business use bulk SMS for?
Most SMS traffic falls into three categories, and the category decides when and how you can send:
- Transactional SMS: order confirmations, delivery updates, payment receipts, appointment reminders, account alerts.
- OTP SMS: one-time passwords for sign-in, sign-up and payment verification. See our guide to OTP SMS in Bangladesh.
- Promotional SMS: offers, discounts, new product launches, festival greetings and campaign messages.
On GotiSMS, transactional and OTP messages can be sent at any time of day. Promotional SMS may only go out between 09:00 and 21:00 Bangladesh time, and the exact text of each promotional campaign is submitted for operator approval before it is sent. Plan promotional campaigns with that review step in mind, especially around busy dates like Eid.
Masking or non-masking: which sender should you use?
The sender is what the recipient sees in the "From" line.
- Masking SMS shows your brand name, such as
GOTISHOP, as the sender ID. Sender IDs use letters, up to 11 characters (the GSM alphanumeric limit). Each sender ID needs approval before use, and masking messages are routed through the recipient's own operator. - Non-masking SMS comes from a regular number. It works on every network, and every GotiSMS account gets a default non-masking sender, so you can start sending without waiting for approval.
Masking builds trust and brand recognition; non-masking is cheaper and faster to start. Many businesses use both. Read the full comparison in Masking vs Non-Masking SMS, or see the product pages for masking SMS and non-masking SMS.
Can you send bulk SMS in Bangla?
Yes. Bangla text is sent as Unicode SMS. The trade-off is length: a single English (GSM-7) SMS holds 160 characters, while a single Unicode SMS holds 70. Longer messages are split into parts, and you are billed per part. A single emoji also turns the whole message into Unicode.
The GotiSMS compose screen counts characters and parts live as you type, so you always see how many parts a message will use before you send. For the full breakdown, read Bangla SMS character limits explained.
What rules apply to bulk SMS in Bangladesh?
SMS in Bangladesh is regulated by BTRC and by each mobile operator's own policies. In practice, that is why sender IDs are approved, promotional content is reviewed, and promotional sending is limited to daytime hours. Rules can change, so always confirm the current requirements with your provider before a large campaign.
Beyond the formal rules, follow good practice:
- Only message people who have given you their number and agreed to hear from you.
- Identify your business clearly in every message.
- Offer an easy way to opt out of promotional messages, and honour it.
- Keep your contact lists clean and remove numbers that no longer belong to customers.
How do you send bulk SMS with GotiSMS?
There are two ways to send: the dashboard and the API.
Using the dashboard
The web dashboard is built for marketing teams and business owners. You can:
- Create an account at gotisms.com/register and top up your prepaid wallet.
- Add contacts one by one or upload them from an Excel or CSV file, and organise them into groups.
- Write your message, or start from a saved template. Save drafts or schedule a send for later.
- Choose your sender ID and the message category, then send.
- Track results on the Campaigns page, which shows delivery reports for each send.
Teams can add members with different roles, and account owners can review sign-in history for security.
Using the API
Developers can send SMS directly from a website, app or back-office system using the REST API. You create an API key in the dashboard, optionally lock it to specific server IP addresses, and send JSON requests to the send endpoint. A single request can carry up to 1,000 recipients. Our SMS API integration tutorial has ready-to-use code in cURL, PHP, Node.js and Python, and the full reference lives at /docs/sms-api.
How much does bulk SMS cost in Bangladesh?
Pricing is per SMS part. GotiSMS publishes indicative rates:
| Service | Indicative price | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Non-masking SMS | from ৳0.18–0.25 per SMS | 10,000 SMS |
| Masking SMS | from ৳0.40–0.60 per SMS | 20,000 SMS, sender ID approval required |
| Enterprise / API | Custom pricing | By agreement |
Final rates depend on your traffic volume, route and operator mix. Remember that a long or Bangla message may use two or more parts, which multiplies the cost. See pricing or read what decides the cost per SMS.
How do you pay?
GotiSMS uses a prepaid wallet in Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). You can top up online with bKash, or by bank transfer, cash or manual Send Money with proof of payment that our staff verify. Each SMS part is deducted from your balance when it is sent.
How to choose a bulk SMS provider in Bangladesh
When comparing providers, ask practical questions:
- Does it reach all operators: Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel, Banglalink and Teletalk?
- Does it support both masking and non-masking, and how does sender ID approval work?
- Does it show character and part counts before sending, especially for Bangla?
- Are delivery reports available, and does the provider explain the difference between "accepted" and "delivered"?
- Is there a documented API with safe retries, such as idempotency keys?
- Is pricing clear, in Taka, with no hidden per-message fees?
- Can your team share an account with separate roles?
Frequently asked questions
Is bulk SMS legal in Bangladesh?
Yes, when you follow BTRC and operator rules: approved sender IDs, reviewed promotional content, permitted sending hours for promotions, and messages only to people who expect them. Confirm current rules before large campaigns.
Which operators does GotiSMS cover?
GotiSMS delivers to every Bangladeshi operator: Grameenphone, Robi (including Airtel), Banglalink and Teletalk. It sends only to Bangladeshi mobile numbers.
Can I send promotional SMS at night?
No. Promotional SMS can only be sent between 09:00 and 21:00 Bangladesh time. Transactional and OTP messages can be sent at any time.
How fast can I start sending?
You can start with the default non-masking sender as soon as your account is set up and your wallet is topped up. Masking requires your sender ID to be approved first.
Do I need a developer to use bulk SMS?
No. The dashboard handles contacts, uploads, templates, scheduling and reports. The API is optional, for businesses that want to send automatically from their own systems.
Ready to reach your customers on every network in Bangladesh? Create your free GotiSMS account and send your first campaign today, or contact us to discuss volume pricing.