Mobile phone subscribers yesterday vented their anger on the operators for facing anomalies relating to call rate packages, Internet packs and text message services. They also sought immediate action by telecoms regulator Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) during the first- ever public hearing on the services provided by the mobile phone operators in the country.  The hearing was arranged at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital. Most of the 34 subscribers, out of around 1,500 who got registered with BTRC to attend the public hearing, raised various complaints against the operators during the two-and-a-half-hour hearing. BTRC chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmud said they would forward all the complaints to respective operators and ask them to resolve those immediately.
Senior officials of mobile phone operators were supposed to respond to complaints and queries of the subscribers during the hearing, but most of the operators sent their junior officials to the event.
At the hearing, Mohammad Mohiuddin, president of the Muthophone Association, said the subscribers were not being compensated for frequent call drops. Besides, the retailers are charging extra Tk 1 or Tk 2 for a recharge of Tk 49 or Tk 89.
Aminul Islam Bulu, president of the Mobile Phone Recharge Association, said foreign operators were taking huge amount of money as state-owned Teletalk had failed to update its network and services. He recommended strengthening the Teletalk.
Rafiqul Islam, member of the Board of Trustee of Consumer Rights, said mobile phone operators had no right to irritate the subscribers with unnecessary promotional text messages. “If they want to send such messages, they must give some incentive to their subscribers,” he added.
Two subscribers --  Mohammd Rubel and Rafayet Noman -- said they had been receiving a huge number of unnecessary promotional text messages, including the invitation to enjoy 'spa facilities' in some message parlours.
Abul Bashar, a Grameenphone user, alleged that the operator was selling lucrative numbers at high prices. “I bought two such numbers for my business. Those were not activated in the last 15 months, although my employees visited their customer care centres eight times in two months,” he said, adding that, “Actually, Grameenphone customer care centres are being operated by relatives of the employees of the operator.”
Abul Hasnat, a customer of Robi, claimed that the operator had sold his number when he went abroad.           
Banglalink postpaid user Bilkis Irani alleged the operator did not activate the Tk 600 bundle offer that was given during the sale of postpaid SIMs. “I have been facing blockade of incoming and outgoing calls after crossing the ceiling. But it was not supposed to happen,” he said.
Aminul Islam, another subscriber, said different night packages offered by the operators were misleading the country's young people.
Muhammad Zahidul Islam, a journalist, said the telecoms regulator should impose a restriction on different packages offered by the operators, as they only confuse the subscribers.
Unmey Kulsum Happy, a student from Jahangirnagar University, said, "In our dormitory, we can't connect Banglalink and Airtel SIMs."
Oliur Rahman, a student, urged the operators to provide 1GB data at Tk 50 so that they could avail the Internet package.
BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmud said they would establish a laboratory to ensure quality service. “We've already imported necessary equipment to monitor the quality of service.”
He said five out of every six people use mobile phone and the BTRC was determined to ensure the quality of service for mobile phone users.
The BTRC chairman also said the public hearing was not the only place where mobile phone subscribers could raise their voice. “They can make any complaints and queries through phone and e-mail to the BTRC call centre,” he added.
Mahmud also said the telecoms regulator would conduct another hearing within the next six months.
Shahiduzzaman Khan, director general of the BTRC (legal and licencing) conducted the hearing. BTRC vice-chairman Ahsan Habib Khan and other senior officials were also present.