Deprived service providers of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), whose are yet to be connected with international gateways to terminate their incoming international phone calls, have asked the authority concerned to immediately pay back their respective license fess along with proper compensation.
A section of the VoIP Service Provider Association (VSPA) came up with such a claim while addressing a press conference held at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity yesterday.
“We want facility-based connection right now, otherwise, we want to get back our license fess immediately along with proper compensations,” said Rabiul Karim, convener of the VSPA, while addressing the press conference. The press conference was also attended by other leaders of the association.
He also informed that they have already deposited Tk50 core as license fees while another Tk10 crore as VAT.
Addressing the press conference VSPA leaders claimed that although most of the operators, out of 881 VSP operators, can’t do any business, some International Gateways (IGW), however, owe Tk1,200 crore to Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC), which is a great loss for the government.
The regulator gives such opportunities to 7-8 IGW’s to pile up their outstanding dues, which already raised questions as the government’s image is now at stake following such acts committed by a state-run commission, they alleged.
“Being a regulator how can BTRC go ahead with such a recommendation with a yearly loss of Tk1,100 crore from incoming international telephone calls generated by IGW companies?” asked the operators.
Earlier, VSPA leaders had also alleged that some high officials of the BTRC, who are supposed to protect the interest of the government, have played the role of predators in collaboration with some corrupt businessmen.
“Some of the officials, who are working for BTRC for quite a long time, are now busy for their own interests, sacrificing the interest of the government,’’ they said.