Govt to shut CHT mobile network

The government is going to close down the mobile network of the private operators in three hill districts -- Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari -- on security grounds.

Local sources said mobile connections of more than 200 mobile centres in Rangamati were closed on August 17 as part of the process.

A source of security forces said it has no connection with Wednesday's countrywide bomb attacks. Intelligence agencies prepared the list of the mobile centres for security reasons a long time ago.

A mobile phone businessman in Bandarban said the mobile centres are being closed following orders of the security forces and the same thing is going to happen soon in Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

Though Aktel, CityCell, Banglalink and GrameenPhone have been operating mobile networks in 61 districts for two decades, the hill region could not be taken under the mobile connectivity in face of obstructions from the security forces.

Security forces think that the law and order situation in the hill region will deteriorate considerably due to mobile phones as several terrorist groups have taken shelter there.

The mobile network of Chittagong zone will be available in some places in the hill region.

More than four hundred mobile phone centres have been set up in the last few years in different areas of the three hill districts, installing antennas on the high hills.

The regular customers said that they will not be able to contact their relatives living abroad if the mobile phone shops are closed down in the hill region.

Source: Bangladesh News