The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory commission is now on fire due to discrimination and corruption allegations. Hundreds of officers and employees held a protest rally at the foot of the Agaragaon BTRC building around 11:30 am on Sunday after the new advisor joined the office in the secretariat. Additionally, they demanded that the BTRC ensure uninterrupted internet and telecom services.
Abdullah Al Amin, Senior Assistant Director of Engineering and Operations Department of BTRC, led the protest. In the protest, they demanded the resignation of the current chairman who has committed discrimination and corruption. At the same time, they demanded to bring the deputy director and private secretary of the administrative department Md. Amjad Hossain Nipu, and the chairman Deputy Director of Engineering and Operations Department, Mahdi Ahmad under trial for this irregularity and corruption.
However, BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed and three commissioners were not present at that time. But after the short-term protest, Vice Chairman Md. Aminul Haque Commissioner, Prof. Sheikh Riaz Ahmed and others entered the office. But before that, the officials seek help from Mushfiq Mannan Chowdhury, Commissioner of Finance Department of BTRC who was present in his room at that time.
When asked about this, he said, I told everyone to be calm. I think, BTRC in its own rules; Process will be followed. The accused may be OSD. After this investigation, the charges against them can be investigated.
According to sources, in such a situation advisor Nahid Islam was reported to go to BTRC but he did not come. However, the additional secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Amirul Islam came to investigate. Representatives of telecom operators also participated in the hearing. According to a close source, two people may be OSD based on the complaint.
Another officer leading the protest, Md. Abdus Shahid Chowdhury, senior associate director of the administration department, said that they will give a memorandum to the adviser of postal, telecommunication and information technology. Those involved in irregularities and corruption will be tried.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association President Mohiuddin Ahmed in a press release claimed that they failed to fulfill their duties and demanded voluntary resignation of BTRC’s top officials for not allowing customers to use unused internet data and not being able to implement one country one rate guideline for broadband internet.
He said, we will appeal to the interim government to bring them under the law. Also, the commission should identify the corrupt and bring them under punishment.
