Will take action if smuggled mobiles used: Palak

State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak has directed to take measures to ensure that no one can use mobile phones smuggled into the country.

He said that to build a Smart Bangladesh, it is crucial not just to regulate the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) but also to focus on fostering innovative and creative skills for future possibilities. Efforts should be made to identify new revenue streams, and measures need to be taken to prevent the use of stolen or illicitly acquired mobile phones to ensure a secure communication environment.

He said this at a meeting at BTRC building in Agargaon of the capital on Tuesday morning. The state minister hoped that BTRC will play a stronger role as a facilitator as well as policy formulation and regulation in order to develop telecommunication sector infrastructure, increase service quality, create foreign investment and employment and increase export income.
Palak said that since its establishment, BTRC has contributed a total revenue of 73,761 crore taka to the national exchequer until the past year (2023). Beyond revenue, the telecom sector has played a pivotal role in creating numerous job opportunities through the facilitation of new technologies and innovative solutions by its four mobile operators, 87 members of the Bangladesh Association of Call Center and Outsourcing (BACCO), and 2,800 establishments affiliated with the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).

He expressed gratitude to the chairman, director-general, and all members of the regulatory body for their contributions.

He further emphasized that foreign investment has significantly increased in the telecom sector, following the trends in power and energy, roads and bridges, and the garment industry. As a result, BTRC continues to play a crucial role in the proliferation of mobile wallets and similar technologies. In addressing current economic challenges, efforts should focus on increasing revenue generation, boosting foreign investment, and creating smart workplaces for the youth. BTRC is expected to play a historic role in achieving these objectives.

The state minister said that there has been a revolutionary increase in the utilization of bandwidth, with a growth of 105 percent in telecommunications. By June 2023, the country has achieved an impressive bandwidth of 4,865 Gbps. This change is a result of policy decisions. To foster a smart economy, BTRC needs to play a role as a smart facilitator rather than a regulator, working collaboratively with innovative powers during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Engineer M. Mohiuddin Ahmed, chairman of BTRC, presided over the event. Among others present were the Secretary of the Commission, Nurul Hafiz, Commissioner of the Spectrum Division, Engineer Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Commissioner of the Finance, Accounts, and Revenue Division, Dr. Mushfiq Mannan Choudhury, Chief Administrator of the Administration Division, Abdullah Al Mamun, Chief Administrator of the Engineering and Operations Division, Brigadier General M. Ehsanul Kabir, Chief Administrator of the Spectrum Division, Brigadier General Mohammad Moniruzzaman Juel, and Chief Administrator of the Systems and Services Division, Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rahman.