ISP Entrepreneurs Protest Proposed Network Topology Policy
Representatives from various layers of the internet industry, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), International Internet Gateways (IIGs), Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Networks (NTTNs), and mobile operators, have gathered for a workshop organized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to discuss the proposed Network Topology Policy.
However, as they were not invited to the meeting, over 300 internet entrepreneurs staged a sit-in protest outside the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Thursday afternoon to assert their stance on the policy. Internet service providers from Chattogram, Khulna, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Sylhet, and other regions joined the demonstration, forming a line along the roadside and protesting various aspects of the proposed policy.
The protesters carried placards bearing slogans such as "Protect Local Investments, Safeguard Thana ISPs," "Save Licenses, Save Businesses, Save Families," "Keep Domestic ISPs Alive, Retain Money Within the Country," and "Competitive Services Are Consumers' Right."
Notably, the demonstration took place without the participation of elected leaders from the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB). Several Thana-level ISP entrepreneurs, including Raisul Islam Tuhin, Alamgir Hossain, and Masudul Alam Jibon, expressed concerns that the new policy could put one million jobs at risk.
The protest, which began at 11:00 AM, continued until 1:00 PM.
