The parliamentary standing committee on post and telecommunications ministry has recommended making the illegal voice over internet protocol (VoIP) business open for all through a legal structure.
The parliamentary watchdog has also expressed the hope that through formulating a legal framework the VoIP business would be open for all within two months time as the committee has got positive nod from the government in this regard.
“The parliamentary standing committee has welcomed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority’s (BRTA’s) initiative to curb the illegal VOIP business. We have also strongly recommended that the government make the VOIP business open for all through formulating required laws,” Hasanul Huq Inu, chairman of the committee said while briefing journalists following a meeting at the media centre of the parliament building yesterday (Wednesday).
Inu said that it would not be possible to stop illegal VOIP business deploying RAB or police without making it open for all. The government is also thinking positively to formulate laws to make the VoIP business legal. If the VoIP business is opened for all, a big opportunity of employment for a large number of educated unemployed people will be created, he added.
In response to a query of journalists’ regarding the opposition BNP’s allegation against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s involvement in illegal VoIP business, Inu said it was the responsibility of the BNP to prove the allegation. “But they (BNP leaders) should have the idea about the consequence if they fail to prove the allegation against the prime minister’s son,” Inu said. The parliamentary standing committee will publish a report on 8 April on what the government will do in future to make Bangladesh a digitised country.
The government is trying to sell or rent the additional bandwidth that has been received form the Bangladesh Sub Marine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) to different technology service providing institutions like Google, Yahoo or Microsoft. The parliamentary committee will take final decision in this regard on Aril 20, he added.
A report on the activities of the BSCCL was placed in the yesterday’s committee meeting and the committee will make discussion on the report at its next meeting.
Courtesy of The Independent