The type of mobile tower equipment used in Bangladesh is the same type of equipment used in all other countries of the world. Besides, all the operators of Bangladesh adhere to the international principles which are followed in the installation of mobile towers. BTRC monitors the radiation levels of these towers across the country from time to time and the results show that it is below the tolerable level. So there is nothing to fear.
The Deputy Director of BTRC, Dr. Samsujjoha informed the matter while presenting the main article at a round table organized by Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at BRAC Center in Mohakhali, Dhaka on Saturday (May 20).
In the discussion on the main article moderated by TRNB President Rashed Mehdi, the speakers said that there is no evidence that the radiation of mobile towers harms the human body or other animals or plants. Some people have an imaginary fear that mobile towers cause various problems like cancer. This is not scientific at all. These are people’s imaginations. The same kind of electric waves are used in mobile phones, routers, radios, microwave ovens, etc. that are used in our homes.
BTRC chairman Shyam Sundar Shikder was present as the chief guest on the occasion. In addition to government policy makers, senior officials from the mobile sector and IT providers participated in the discussion. They said that mobile sites cannot be set up in at least three hundred places in the capital which are essential. Awareness needs to be raised to overcome this fear. We want high quality mobile service but do not allow site installation. Such experience is happening in both public and private institutions. Speakers appealed to the people to cooperate in the development of mobile sites to get better quality services.
Speakers also said that many people are installing jammers, repeaters, boosters in mobile networks illegally. These cannot be placed. These are illegal. Due to all this, the network is also being damaged. Customers themselves are not getting proper services. Operators are being blocked from using spectrum purchased at the cost of thousands of crores taka.
Speakers at the event said, radiation is mainly of two types — ionized and non-ionized. Ultraviolet rays, gamma rays, X-rays etc. are ionized which can harm the human body. But mobile phones, mobile towers, routers are non-ionized. There is nothing harmful in it.
But because of this imaginary fear, people are hindering the expansion of mobile network. Towers installed in public or private buildings have to be removed. They called on everyone to be aware of this matter.
Mahbubul Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Brigadier General Ehsanul Kabir, Director General of Engineering and Operations Department of BTRC, Taimur Rahman, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer of Mobile Operator Banglalink, Saheed Alam, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer of Robi, Senior Director of Grameenphone Corporate Affairs participated in the discussion. Hossain Sadat, Head of Network Solutions Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ericsson Bangladesh Country Manager Abdus Salam, Nokia Bangladesh Country Head Arif Islam, Huawei Limited Bangladesh Principal Marketing Manager SM Nazmul Hasan, Tower Company edotco Head of Regulatory Affairs Masuda Hossain, Secretary General of AMTOB Brigadier General SM Farhad (retd) and others.