Cyber caf� owners threaten to enforce �digital hartal�

Cyber Café owners yesterday threatened to enforce a countrywide ‘digital hartal’ and lay siege to the BTRC office in the capital on October 28 if their six-point demand is not met by October 27, reports UNB. Cyber Café Owners Association of Bangladesh (CCOAB) came up with the ultimatum at a press conference at the National Press Club. CCOAB President SM Zulfikar Hayder, its General Secretary AM Kamal Uddin Ahmed Selim and Senior Vice-President Nayamul Haque Khan spoke at the press conference. The demands include issuing licences for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and stopping harassment of ISPs by law enforcement agencies in the name of drive. Speaking on the occasion, CCOAB President alleged that the law enforcement agencies were harassing the Internet Service Providers who have applied for licences as per the laws. He warned that they will lay siege to the BTRC office on October 28 and enforce a ‘digital hartal’ by cutting off internet service across the country for a day if their demands are not met by October 27. Speakers also said there are some 175 licensed ISPs in the city and 75 other organisations outside the capital. Around 500 organisations applied for licences but Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) stopped issuing new licences since 2012.

 

Cyber caf� owners threaten to enforce �digital hartal�

Cyber Caf owners yesterday threatened to enforce a countrywide digital hartal and lay siege to the BTRC office in the capital on October 28 if their six-point demand is not met by October 27, reports UNB. Cyber Caf Owners Association of Bangladesh (CCOAB) came up with the ultimatum at a press conference at the National Press Club. CCOAB President SM Zulfikar Hayder, its General Secretary AM Kamal Uddin Ahmed Selim and Senior Vice-President Nayamul Haque Khan spoke at the press conference. The demands include issuing licences for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and stopping harassment of ISPs by law enforcement agencies in the name of drive. Speaking on the occasion, CCOAB President alleged that the law enforcement agencies were harassing the Internet Service Providers who have applied for licences as per the laws. He warned that they will lay siege to the BTRC office on October 28 and enforce a digital hartal by cutting off internet service across the country for a day if their demands are not met by October 27. Speakers also said there are some 175 licensed ISPs in the city and 75 other organisations outside the capital. Around 500 organisations applied for licences but Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) stopped issuing new licences since 2012.