BTRC to Hold 7th Public Hearing on August 19 as Telecom Service Issues Persist
BTRC will hold its seventh public hearing on August 19 to gather customer feedback on telecom services, while longstanding issues such as call drops, slow internet and hidden VAS charges continue to dominate user complaints.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is set to hold its 7th public hearing to gather customer complaints, opinions and recommendations regarding the quality of telecom services across the country.
The hybrid (online and offline) hearing, titled "Questions and Opinions on Telecom Services," will take place on Wednesday, August 19, at 10:00 am at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.
According to a BTRC notice, online participation will be open to the public, subject to the platform's maximum capacity. Individuals and organizations interested in joining must complete the Google registration form available on the BTRC website by July 26. Selected participants will receive login credentials via email or SMS after the Commission reviews the submitted registrations and proposed discussion topics.
Public Hearings (2016–2025): A Decade of Recurring Complaints
Since 2016, BTRC has organized six public hearings, providing telecom users with a platform to directly raise concerns before regulators and operators. Despite these initiatives, the nature of customer complaints has remained largely unchanged.
| Hearing | Date | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nov. 22, 2016 | 1,050 complaints; call drops, slow internet, biometric SIM registration |
| 2nd | Jun. 12, 2019 | Over 100 complaints; poor internet quality and call drops |
| 3rd | Aug. 22, 2021 | 23,016 online complaints; network coverage, internet speed and mobile data pricing |
| 4th | Dec. 8, 2022 | 848 complaints; 4G coverage and mobile tower radiation |
| 5th | May 8, 2024 | 3,025 complaints; emergency recharge service and customer support |
| 6th | Nov. 25, 2025 | Around 1,500 complaints; unauthorized VAS activation, SIM deactivation, MNP issues and poor network quality |
The most recent hearing in 2025 was conducted virtually using Convay, an AI-powered platform developed by Bangladeshi technology company Synesis IT. Participants raised concerns over unauthorized value-added services (VAS), hidden charges, weak network coverage, SIM replacement fees, mobile number portability (MNP) complications, and SIM deactivation without prior notice. Issues relating to competition among mobile operators, Teletalk's network quality and regulatory audit disputes were also discussed.
Telecom analysts say BTRC's regular public hearings represent an important platform for consumer engagement and regulatory transparency. However, an analysis of the six hearings over the past decade indicates that persistent problems—including call drops, slow internet services and hidden VAS charges—remain largely unresolved.
They believe the 7th public hearing on August 19 should move beyond collecting complaints and instead focus on implementing practical and timely solutions to long-standing customer concerns.
//DBITEC/MAH/SME//
