The internet service providers (ISPs) and cable operators on Wednesday began to remove overhead cables in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area after getting approval from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The members of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) and the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (Coab) were overseeing the removal process from Shimanto Square area in Dhanmondi road-2 until Dhanmondi road-27 (Bangladesh Eye Hospital), using two methods - open-cut to remove overhead cables and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to take the cables underground.
ISPAB president MA Hakim said they commenced the work while maintaining all the DSCC instructions.
“We began from 11:00am, we completed work in two kilometers until 2:00pm,” he told Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday, adding that they would work even at night for quickly finishing the task.
Hakim further informed that they will start their work from midnight and continue till early morning until the work is completed.
On Tuesday, the DSCC had sent letters separately to both ISPAB and Coab to remove overhead cables from the Dhanmondi area within 15 days.
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The DSCC also put some conditions, such as taking fresh permission if the removal process was not completed within the stipulated time.
Among other conditions, the company will be responsible for any accidents and damage of other organizations’ underground lines during the excavation work and will be obliged to pay appropriate compensation where applicable, the letter adds.
The process also should not cause any problem to the movement of people and vehicles, and excavated soil, dirt, and other rubbish etc should be removed within 24 hours.
Also, the trenches should be filled with sand and compacted immediately after completion of excavation work and make it suitable for vehicular traffic, the DSCC instructed.
On Saturday evening, internet providers decided to postpone the 3-hr internet shutdown after a zoom meeting between Coab and ISPAB with the ministers of the Post, Telecommunication, and Information Ministry.
Earlier on October 12, ISPAB and Coab decided to shut down the internet in protest against the removal of overhead wires by the DSCC in the capital.
The two city corporations started cutting overhead cables from August for the beautification of Dhaka city.
