Grameenphone launches new service for the hearing- and speech-impaired

The country's largest mobile phone service provider Grameenphone has launched a sign-language based video call service for the hearing and speech-impaired community.  

The "sign-line digital care" was launched on Sunday under the "Kothagulo Hariye Na Jak Shobder Obhabe" initiative.

Through this initiative, the company has incorporated sign-language based digital care services in its official website and in its self-service digital care app MyGP. 

Grameenphone subscribers who have hearing and speech impairments will now be able to receive customer service in sign language from 10am to 6pm every day.

Sign-line digital care is operated by members of the hearing- and speech-impaired community. The company has appointed four sign language experts to run the service.

Moreover, the initiative also provides a video tutorial by sign-language expert Arafat Sultana Lata that enables anyone interested in learning the basics of sign language. 

The video can be watched on Grameenphone's official website and on its YouTube channel. 

Chief Executive Officer of Grameenphone, Yasir Azman, and acclaimed actor and singer Tahsan Khan inaugurated the service. 

Reiterating Grameenphone's commitment to society, Yasir said, "Now we are a family of 76.5 million people, and it is our responsibility to serve everyone in our network, including those who have hearing and speech impairments."

"Integration of sign-line into MyGP and our website will help us serve millions with special needs," he said.  

Yasir said sign language is the second most spoken language in the country after Bengali, but opportunities to learn this form of communication are inadequate.

"As a result, people who have hearing and speech impairments are unable to communicate properly with the rest of the population," he added. 

Grameenphone's Chief Marketing Officer Sajjad Hasib, Head of Marketing Nafees Anwar Choudhury and Head of Communications Khairul Basher also attended the event.