Emphasizing that telecommunications should prioritize service rather than business, BTRC Chairman Emdadul Bari stated, “BTRC is now a mockery of a commission. Even for obtaining a license, prior approval is required, which opens the door to nepotism. Large entities like NTEN and MNO want to enjoy all privileges despite their dominance. They prefer to operate independently without collaboration, making it difficult for us to maintain market balance.”
He further remarked that increasing customer income would ultimately benefit telecom operators themselves.
The BTRC Chairman added, “BTRC is merely a tax collector. There is no proven research to suggest that reducing taxes will increase revenue. Locking handsets is not our responsibility; rather, we aim to promote widespread use of smartphones. Hence, we have proposed reducing the tax on mobile handset production.”
These statements were made at a roundtable discussion organized by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) on Tuesday at a hotel in Dhaka. The event was presided over by TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey, with General Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin delivering the welcome address. The keynote presentation was delivered by TRNB Organizational Secretary Al Amin Dewan.
To address the challenges arising in the market, TIM Nurul Kabir proposed establishing a research and development division within BTRC. He also raised concerns regarding the quality of services provided by operators, stating, “The highest level of corruption has occurred in the ICT and telecom sectors. Implementing ‘Quality of Regulation’ is essential. It is high time for the 10 chairmen to collaborate and prepare a comprehensive paper.”
Taimur Rahman, Corporate Affairs Officer of Banglalink, suggested that the process for obtaining licenses for investments should be made more flexible and open.
