Speakers at a discussion on Sunday called for urgent reforms in Bangladesh鈥檚 telecommunications鈥� sector to make mobile and internet services more affordable.
At the discussion titled 鈥楴ecessity of Reformation in Telecommunication and Internet Sector鈥� organised by the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association at the National Press Club in the capital Dhaka on Sunday, they emphasised the need for fair competition and policy changes.
They stressed the need to recognise the internet as a basic necessity.
Speakers also urged the government to lower VAT and taxes on mobile calls and internet services, mentioning that currently 60 to 70 per cent of the total cost was due to government-imposed charges.
They also raised concerns over multi-layered internet distribution system. They criticised the existing multi-layered internet distribution system, saying it had led to higher consumer costs.
Ishraque Hossain, a member of聽international affairs聽committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, accused the ousted Awami League government of monopolising the sector.
He said, 鈥楥orruption has been carried out silently in the telecom sector like in every other sector. A white paper on the telecom sector should be published to reveal the persons responsible for this.鈥�
He welcomed a proposal to introduce Starlink, a US-based satellite internet provider, in the country, saying that it could improve internet access, especially in rural areas, and create more digital job opportunities.
Khaled Abu Nasser, former competition commission director, highlighted the importance of protecting local investors, saying, 鈥楾he telecom sector is linked to various industries. We must ensure a fair market and prevent monopolies.鈥�
Speakers also urged the regulatory authorities to lower VAT and taxes on the internet services, saying that lower costs would enable operators to offer more affordable services.
BMPCA president Mohiuddin Ahmed, Grameenphone senior director Hossain Sadat, BDJobs chief executive officer Fahim Mashrur and International Internet Gateway Association of Bangladesh president Aminul Hakim also spoke at the event.
