Subscribers at Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), Cox’s Bazar Branch, has declined recent years drastically due to manifold reasons.
According to the BTCL office sources, 261 connections in Sadar upazila, 22 in Chakaria, 67 in Ramu, 12 in Moheashkhali, 18 in Kutubdia, 46 in Ukhia, 118 in Eidgaon and 21 in Pekua exchanges were disconnected in 2015 as the office did not get the bill from the subscribers for long time.
On the other hand, 4,000 connections including 2,866 in Sadar upazila, 291 in Teknaf, 154 in Ukhia, 182 in Moheashkhali, 290 in Eidgaon, 306 in Ramu, 327 in Chakaria, 155 in Pekua and 97 in Kutubdia are being operated without getting any due.
“The BTCL office does not know about the amount of the due,” said a BTCL requesting anonymity.
In 2013, 8,385 lines were operated and the subscribers paid the bill regular.
Of them, more than 2,000 lines were disconnected in 2014.
Subscribers Amirul Islam and Md Rasehd of Jhautala in Sadar upazila alleged that BTCL officials were not available when they faced problem.
The officials demanded bribe when they were available in the office, the also said.
“So we have decided not to use the BTCL line,” said Amirul.
Trader Anwar Hossain at Sadar upazila town said his line had been disconnected as he protested taking bribe by the BTCL officials.
Another trader Abu Taher said:“I had two connections. Recently I have canceled the subscription as I do not get good services.”
When contacted, Selim Bhuyan, officer-in-charge of the BTCL, said: “Maximum people now use mobile phone. So they are not interested in land phone.”
“The government should take steps to launch better services in the BTCL offices,” he said.
Assistant engineer of the BTCL Pijush Kanti Chowdhury said some new packages had been declared to increase the number of subscribers.