A section of mobile phone users today switched off their devices for an hour protesting the recent hike in call rate. 

“The telecom ministry and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) completely failed to protect customers’ rights,” Mohiuddin Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association, said while holding the protest programme in front of Jatiya Press Club.

The leaders of the association said the government has increased the voice call rate by about 50 percent from August 14.

Moreover, the government lowered the VAT on internet usage to five percent from 15 percent in the budget but there is no reflection of it on the internet packages, the association members said.

They further said the telecom regulators have introduced the mobile number portability service from October 1 and charge was fixed at Tk 30. But just before launching the service, the government increased the amount to Tk 50 for the same service, they added.

For getting faster service, it fixed an additional Tk 100.

Political leaders, Jonayed Saki and others, from left-leaning parties were among those who attended the protest.