Govt asks BTRC to probe mobile phone package fraud complaints

The Post and Telecommunications Division has asked regulators BTRC to check whether the mobile-phone users face package fraud and how their allegations are being acted upon.

The division in a letter on Tuesday asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to submit a report on the conditions applied in packages offered by the operators within Aug 31.

The division's Deputy Secretary Mazeda Yasmin sent the letter to BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood.

The letter says the customers bring allegations of fraud in 'attractive' packages offered by the operators.

It asked the BTRC to check whether the prices of the packages are fixed reasonably, or the customers are being cheated, and to report what steps it is taking over the allegations brought by the subscribers.

The division also says consumers' rights should be protected and their allegations considered with importance.

With the rise in the number of internet users in Bangladesh, the customers are alleging slow connection, problems in network, and extra charges.

The BTRC organised a public hearing in November last year to listen to the users who highlighted network problems, dropped call, slow internet connection, fraud in the name of package and unnecessary SMS.

Among 130 million mobile phone users, 59.3 million subscribe to Grameenphone, making up 45 percent of the total users.

Robi and Airtel together have 35 million subscribers after a merger while Banglalink has 31.3 million.

State-owned Teletalk has 3.7 million subscribers after the recent closure of Citycell.

Nearly half of Bangladesh's 160 million-strong population use internet, mostly on mobile phones.

Until February, the number of internet users grew over 67.2 million.