Petition seeks direction to ensure quality services for mobile phone users

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers' Association (BMPCA) has filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking directions to take necessary steps to ensure quality services for mobile phone users.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, president of the BMPCA, and two others filed the writ petition on Tuesday, said their lawyer Ishrat Hasan.

The writ petition sought the issuance of a rule asking why respondents' inaction (in ensuring the rights of mobile subscribers) should not be considered illegal and why directives should not be issued to guarantee quality services for mobile phone subscribers.

In addition, the petition also sought guidance to constitute an expert committee (comprising of two professors from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and representatives of mobile phone operating companies), which would make recommendations to strengthen and evaluate the network in accordance with international standards.

The secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, and the chief executives of the Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Teletalk were respondents in the writ petition.

A legal notice was also sent in this regard. At the time, Ishrat Hasan said mobile phone subscribers had been suffering as a result of the weak network and slow internet. The quality of services provided by mobile phone companies are not commensurate with the significant amount of money they charge their customers.