Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has restored operations of mobile networks in Gulshan 2 area after receiving complaints of poor telecom and internet services from foreign embassies in the capital.
However, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Press Wing office Shamsudin Didar told the Dhaka Tribune that mobile network in their office was very weak and there is no internet and land phone connection as yet.
A senior BTRC official notified the mobile operators verbally to resume service in the area yesterday afternoon; a letter was sent to the operators in the evening.
The letter read: “It is learnt that some of the diplomatic missions in Baridhara/Ghulshan area, particularly those of Japan, Spain, and the Netherlands, are facing complete obstructions in mobile communication. I am, therefore, directed to instruct you to immediately restore mobile phone communications at all missions and render full cooperation to the law enforcers.”
At least three embassies, including that of Japan, filed the complaints at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Thursday, saying they were not receiving smooth telecom services and uninterrupted internet connection, prompting the ministry to write to the BRTC about the matter.
According to sources, 40 base transceiver stations, out of the 60 which were deactivated earlier, has been re-activated.
Earlier on January 31, following an email from the BTRC, all six mobile phone operators in the country and three WiMax operators suspended their networks at the BNP chief’s office, which affected parts of Gulshan 2 and the diplomatic zone in Baridhara.
The BTRC also ordered a few internet services providers in that area to block internet services to Khaleda’s office.
Sources said thousands of residents in Gulshan 2 and nearby diplomatic zone have also been facing disruption.
This correspondent visited that area yesterday noon and found severe problems around Road 86.
Before the three embassies, mobile operator Grameenphone also wrote a letter to the BTRC informing about the inconvenience of its subscribers, including the US Embassy.
The senior BTRC official said they had no information as to when the bar on telecom services at Road 86 would be withdrawn.
