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Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission

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Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
AbbreviationBTRC
Formation2002
PurposeRegulate telecommunication in Bangladesh
HeadquartersAgargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
Region served
Bangladesh
Official language
Bengali
Chairman
Major General Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari
Parent organization
Posts and Telecommunications Division
Websitewww.btrc.gov.bd

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ টেলিযোগাযোগ নিয়ন্ত্রণ কমিশন) is an independent commission founded under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001 (Act # 18 of 2001). The BTRC is responsible for regulating all matters related to telecommunications (wire, cellular, satellite and cable) of Bangladesh.[1] The chairman of the commission has the status of a judge of the Bangladesh High Court.[2] Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari is the chairman of the commission.[3]

History

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In 1979, the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board was created through the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board ordinance.[4] The ordinance was revised in 1995.[4]

The BTRC started operating from 31 January 2002 with a vision of facilitating affordable telecommunication services and increasing the teledensity to at least 10 telephones per 100 inhabitants by 2010.[4] The ordinance was updated with the passage of Telecommunication Act (Corrected) bill in 2010.[4]

In 2016, the salaries of the commissions and chairman was doubled by the government of Bangladesh.[5]

Censorship

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In March 2013, BTRC was criticised by the Human Rights Watch[6] and other groups for banning a number of "atheist blogger" websites.[7] Blogs banned by the BTRC included the award-winning popular blog[8] by Asif Mohiuddin, who had been attacked by a machete wielding group in January.[9]

Mohiuddin was arrested the following month,[10] along with three other bloggers .[11]

Chairmen

[edit]
Sl No. Name Term Start Term End Reference
1. Syed Margub Murshed 31 January 2002 30 January 2005 [12]
2. Muhammad Omar Farooq 31 March 2005 15 March 2007 [12]
3. Major General Manzurul Alam 22 April 2007 10 February 2009 [12]
4. Major General Zia Ahmed 26 February 2009 10 September 2012 [12]
5. Md. Giashuddin Ahmed 10 September 2012 22 October 2012 [12]
6. Sunil Kanti Bose 23 October 2012 23 September 2015 [13][14]
7. Shahjahan Mahmood 24 September 2015 1 September 2018 [14]
8. Md Jahurul Haque 31 January 2019 4 December 2020 [15][16]
9. Shyam Sunder Sikder 14 December 2020 11 December 2023 [16]
10. Md Mohiuddin Ahmed 11 December 2023 19 August 2024 [16]
11. Major General (Retd.) Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari 10 September 2024 [17]
[edit]
  • Under Construction in BTRC Building
    Under Construction in BTRC Building
  • Under Construction in BTRC Building Southwest side
    Under Construction in BTRC Building Southwest side
  • Under Construction in BTRC Building Southeast side
    Under Construction in BTRC Building Southeast side

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BTRC a key organisation in building Smart Bangladesh: State Minister Palak". 6 December 2023.
  2. ^ "BTRC chairman to enjoy status of HC judge". UNB. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Comissioners". Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Vision & History". Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  5. ^ Ahmed, Shamim. "Salaries 'to double' for BTRC chief, commissioners". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh: Crackdown on Bloggers, Editors Escalates". Human Rights Watch. 15 April 2013.
  7. ^ Arafatul Islam (25 March 2013). "Bangladesh gags award-winning blogger". Deutsche-Welle.
  8. ^ Asif Mohiuddin. "God, Almighty only in name but impotent in reality (transl)". somewhereinblog.net. present blog page reads: "blog has been withdrawn or cancelled for violating terms and conditions" (transl.)
  9. ^ "4 held over attempt to kill blogger". The Daily Star. 2 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Blogger Asif Mohiuddin arrested over "blasphemous" blog posts". Reporters Without Borders. 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. quote: "We call for Mohiuddin’s immediate and unconditional release," Reporters Without Borders said.
  11. ^ Emran Hossain (4 March 2013). "Bangladesh Arrests 'Atheist Bloggers,' Cracking Down on Critics". The Huffington Post.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Previous Comissioners". Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Sunil Kanti Bose is new BTRC Chairman". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  14. ^ a b "MNP will solve call drops menace, says outgoing BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  15. ^ "BTRC gets new chairman". The Daily Star. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  16. ^ a b c "Shyam Sunder Sikder made BTRC chairman". Dhaka Tribune. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Major General Emdad ul Bari appointed as BTRC chairman". The Business Standard. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.


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