Telecoms subscribers seek BTRC role

Telecoms subscribers at a workshop yesterday sought proper role of the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BRTC) to safeguard their interest.

Although there have been tremendous developments in the telecommunication, the consumers, at large, are not sufficiently aware of their rights which consequently deprives them of required facilities, they alleged.

They were addressing the inaugural function of a three- day training workshop titled 'Consumer Awareness Building Telecommuni-cation and ICT Services' jointly organised by BTRC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in co-operation with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at Brac Inn at Mahakhali in Dhaka.

Citing different examples of violation of subscribers' rights in the country, they said the functions of the regulator can be effectively executed if it obtains the market feedback.

Chairman of BTRC Muhammad Omar Farooq called upon telecoms operators to spend a portion of their profit on the benefit of telecom subscribers.

Bangladesh is a market with lots of potential and every operator is doing good business here, Farooq said while inaugurating the workshop.

Fazlur Rahman, director co- ordination of Telekom Malaysia International Bangladesh (TMIB), the service operator of AKTel, said competition is vibrant in Bangladesh's telecommunication industry and consumers have started dominating the market.

The role of operators towards consumer satisfaction has attained a new dimension, he added.

AMM Reza-e-Rabbi, vice- chairman of BTRC, presided over the inaugural session.