Most professionals participating in a public hearing on the proposed merger of mobile providers Robi and Airtel have said that they are in favour of it.
The participants expressed their opinion at a public hearing on the proposed merger of Robi Axiata and Airtel Bangladesh Limited held at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) conference room in the capital on Wednesday.
The regulatory body arranged the hearing as per the provisions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001.
Participants were assured that the merger would not result in job cuts
Some 98 professionals took part in the hearing presided over by BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood. The regulatory body also sought opinions from other mobile operators in Bangladesh, who have submitted their opinions.
He said the regulatory body would make the final decision after receiving the market impact survey report.
Today's public hearing was announced on January 31.
On January 29, Robi and Airtel signed a merger agreement to commence joint business operations in Bangladesh. The joint venture entity will operate under the Robi name.
Malaysia-based Axiata Group Berhad and India-based Bharti Airtel Limited inked the deal in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Shahjahan assured participants that the merger would not result in job cuts.
Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wajed Joy directed the BTRC to take public opinion before finalising the merger at a meeting last December with senior telecommunications division bureaucrats.
At the meeting, Joy also directed a committee to be formed to analyse the telecommunications market. A two-member committee comprised of two teachers has been formed.
The two mobile telephone companies submitted a joint application to the BTRC last September seeking approval for the proposed merger.
Robi and Airtel sources said the companies expect get approval for the merger from the BTRC in the first half of 2016.