ZCZC
BSS-11
PM-MNP 2 LAST DHAKA
Describing the young generation as the biggest strength of the country,
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will be developed further if they are groomed
up properly.
“Once the country was under the era of darkness, but now the country is
advancing towards light. The young generation will get the path of light if
we grow them up properly,” she said.
The prime minister asked the young generation to be habituated to using
technologies, saying that the technologies are frequently changing in the
world.
“With the passing of days, new technologies are innovated and the young
generation will have to be habituated to using the technologies to move
keeping pace with modern world,” she said.
Urging all to pay tax, Sheikh Hasina said how the country will be
developed if demands for reducing tax are made frequently.
“We’ve been able to increase budget seven times, we are constructing roads
and bridges and implementing Digital Bangladesh with our own funding.
“But, there was a time, we were used to beg hands and to be dependent on
others …that days have gone. We’ve to retain this honour,” she added.
The prime minister said the government is making strides to build
Bangladesh as a self-dependent one. “We are working untiringly to achieve the
goal,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, however, said she has nothing to do if the finance minister
waves tax. “But we’ll be able to keep up development spree if the people pay
tax,” she said.
She said Bangladesh has now been transformed into a digital country due to
various steps of her government in the last 10 years.
“The country witnessed massive development during the period as the people
especially the young generation gave vote to us massively. The young
generation realised that they will get more scope if we come to power,” she
said.
The prime minister said her government made television, telephone, bank and
insurance open in private sector to generate more employment in the country.
She said there was only one television (BTV) and only radio, but now 44 TV
channels got approval from the government and of them, 32 went into
operation.
“Though we’ve given approval to the TV channels and digitised the country,
we (the government) are the most sufferers as so much criticism against the
government takes place there,” she said.
“But whatever criticism is made there, we were able to create employment
for the young generation,” she added.
Highlighting her government’s steps for the development of
telecommunication and ICT sectors, Sheikh Hasina said her government in 1996
broke the monopoly of a mobile phone company by issuing licences to three
more companies.
“We had waved tax on computer and its accessories massively to make the use
of computer popular during the period,” she said.
The premier said the government is constructing 28 hi-tech parks across the
country for flourishing IT industry and creating employment. “Of them, two
hi-tech parks went into operation,” she said.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) announced the
introduction of the MNP services at a press conference at its office here on
October 1.
The services have opened up the users’ freedom of choice in switching to
any network, retaining the existing number unchanged, which was not possible
earlier for the hassle of changing number.
The regulator assigned Infozillion Teletech BD, a consortium of
Infozillion BD Limited, and Teletech DOO, Slovenia, through issuing license
in November last year to offer the MNP service.
It was directed to run operation within 180 days of getting the license,
but failed to comply with the order for the non-compliance of mobile phone
operators.
Infozillion Teletech BD managing director Mabroor Hossain said as per the
BTRC rules, mobile phone users must collect new SIMs from the customer care
centres of the desired operator.
“Within a particular time, the new SIM card would be activated,” he said.
Mabroor said they have taken an initiative to complete the porting within
24 hours for prepaid users.
Infozillion chief executive officer (CEO) Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Zulfikar
said the users intending to switch to new operator under the MNP service has
to give their related information and documents such as NID number and
picture during the collection of new SIM.
“Though the regulator has given a timeframe of 72 hours to activate the
SIMs, Infozillion assures the customers that the process would be completed
much earlier,” he said.
If any user again wants to change operator, he/she has to wait 90 days,
added Zulfikar.
According to the BTRC, currently 72 countries across the world offer MNP
service. India began MNP service in 2011 and Pakistan launched it in 2007.
BSS/SH/MRI/1428 hrs