Since its long six years of establishment, the digital exchange of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) in Kachua upazila of Chandpur has not yet come into operation. Existence of no cable network is cited as the main reason along with lack of manpower and necessary equipment. As a result, hundreds of people of the upazila are devoid of affordable modern day communication services.
During the 2008-2009 fiscal, BTCL constructed the digital exchange office at Sachar of Kachua spending about one crore Taka. The aim was to provide affordable phone call and internet services for the people of the upazila. However, because of years of non-operation the office building has now turned into a den for drug addicts and miscreants. The newly built building is falling apart due to no maintenance. Its equipment are also at risk of getting damaged and stolen.
Traders at Sachar bazar said, the area was a business hub of upazila with branches of several private banks, government offices and various companies. However, the business has been suffering as there is no land phone facility.
Businessman Abul Hasnat said: “Telecommunication is a prerequisite of the digital age. Mobile call rate is higher than that of the government. Everyday I spend about Tk300 for mobile calls. If I could use the landline, the cost would have been much lower.”
Local people also expressed frustration over wasting government resources. “People are gradually turning towards online activities. Banks are also offering online service. If the digital exchange was operational, we could make overseas calls for a cheap rate,” they said.
Deputy Assistant Engineer Mohd Shajahan, the person in charge of the Sachar digital exchange, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had been maintaining the equipment hoping that the centre would be inaugurated soon. “But now it’s not sure when it will be operational. Many of the equipment are getting damaged for not being in use,” he added. When asked why the centre was not inaugurated, he said it was a matter of the senior administration.
The digital exchange falls under the purview of the district Assistant Engineer Telecoms Azharul Hasan. When contacted, he said he did not know anything about the digital exchange since he had been newly appointed.
However, Comilla Divisional Engineer Abdullah Patwari said: “There is no cable network of BTCL here. And that is the reason why the digital exchange could not be operational. Without cable network, the exchange cannot provide any service.”
He could not answer when, and if it all, the digital exchange would be functional.