Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
{{Short description|Independent commission of the Bangladeshi government}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
| image = BTRC Bhaban.jpg
| caption = BTRC Bhaban
| map =
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| abbreviation = BTRC
| motto =
| formation = 2002
| extinction =
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| status =
| purpose = Regulate telecommunication in Bangladesh
| headquarters = Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
| location =
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| region_served = Bangladesh
| members =
| language = Bengali
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Major General Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari
| main_organ =
| parent_organization = Posts and Telecommunications Division
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| website = {{URL|http://www.btrc.gov.bd/}}
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Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) ({{langx|bn|বাংলাদেশ টেলিযোগাযোগ নিয়ন্ত্রণ কমিশন}}) is an independent commission founded under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Act no. 18 of 2001). The commission is responsible for regulating all matters related to telecommunications (wire, cellular, satellite and cable) of Bangladesh.{{cite web | url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/btrc-key-organisation-building-smart-bangladesh-state-minister-palak-753010 | title=BTRC a key organisation in building Smart Bangladesh: State Minister Palak | date=6 December 2023 }} The chairman of the commission has the status of a judge of the High Court Division.{{Cite news |title=BTRC chairman to enjoy status of HC judge |url=https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/btrc-chairman-to-enjoy-status-of-hc-judge/46659 |access-date=2022-09-20 |work=UNB |language=en}} Since 10 September 2024, Md. Emdad-Ul-Bari has been the chairman of the commission.{{cite web |title=Comissioners |url=http://www.btrc.gov.bd/site/page/804cded3-c84c-498e-a0c1-a71c843e35a6/- |website=Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission |access-date=20 September 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=UNB |date=2024-09-10 |title=BTRC gets new chairman |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/42678hb0cn |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Prothomalo |language=en}}
History
In 1979, the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board was established through the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board Ordinance, 1975.{{Cite web |title=Vision & History |url=http://www.btrc.gov.bd/site/page/a92b8603-ba78-4dd2-971a-2e63ff30c006/- |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission |language=en}} The ordinance was revised in 1995.
The BTRC started operating from 31 January 2002 with a vision of facilitating affordable telecommunication services and increasing the teledensity to at least 10 telephones per 100 inhabitants by 2010. The ordinance was updated with the passage of the Telecommunication Act (Corrected) bill in 2010.
In 2016, the salaries of the commissions and chairman was doubled by the government of Bangladesh.{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Shamim |title=Salaries 'to double' for BTRC chief, commissioners |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/salaries-to-double-for-btrc-chief-commissioners |access-date=2022-09-20 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}}
In 2023, an official order to mandatorily install a keyboard layout package kit spawned furor over multiple fronts.{{Cite news |title=A directive that doesn't sound sound |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/192126/a-directive-that-doesnt-sound-sound |access-date=2024-03-21 |work=New Age |language=en}}
= Censorship =
In March 2013, BTRC was criticised by the Human Rights Watch
{{cite news
| title = Bangladesh: Crackdown on Bloggers, Editors Escalates
| author =
| publisher = Human Rights Watch
| url = https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/15/bangladesh-crackdown-bloggers-editors-escalates
| date = 15 April 2013
| access-date =
}}
and other groups for banning a number of "atheist blogger" websites.
{{cite news
| title = Bangladesh gags award-winning blogger
| author = Arafatul Islam
| publisher = Deutsche-Welle
| url = http://www.dw.de/bangladesh-gags-award-winning-blogger/a-16697713
| date = 25 March 2013
| access-date =
}} Blogs banned by the BTRC included the award-winning popular blog
{{cite news
| title = God, Almighty only in name but impotent in reality (transl)
| author = Asif Mohiuddin
| publisher = somewhereinblog.net
| url = http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/realAsifM
| date =
| access-date =
}}
present blog page reads: "blog has been withdrawn or cancelled for violating terms
and conditions" (transl.)
by Asif Mohiuddin, who had been attacked by a machete wielding group in January.
{{cite news
| title = 4 held over attempt to kill blogger
| work = The Daily Star
| url = http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/4-held-over-attempt-to-kill-blogger/
| date = 2 April 2013
| access-date =
}}
Mohiuddin was arrested the following month,{{cite news
| title = Blogger Asif Mohiuddin arrested over "blasphemous" blog posts
| author =
| publisher = Reporters Without Borders
| url = http://en.rsf.org/bangladesh-blogger-asif-mohiuddin-arrested-03-04-2013,44295.html
| date = 3 April 2013
| access-date =
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061459/http://en.rsf.org/bangladesh-blogger-asif-mohiuddin-arrested-03-04-2013,44295.html
| url-status = dead
}}
quote: "We call for Mohiuddin’s immediate and unconditional release," Reporters
Without Borders said. along with three other bloggers
{{cite news
| title = Bangladesh Arrests 'Atheist Bloggers,' Cracking Down on Critics
| author = Emran Hossain
| work = The Huffington Post
| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/bangladesh-bloggers_n_3009137.html
| date = 4 March 2013
| access-date =
}}
Chairmen
Gallery
File:Under Construction in BTRC Building.jpg|Under Construction in BTRC Building
File:Under Construction in BTRC Building Southwest side.jpg|Under Construction in BTRC Building Southwest side
File:Under Construction in BTRC Building Southeast side.jpg|Under Construction in BTRC Building Southeast side
See also
{{portal|Bangladesh|Telecommunications}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Bangladesh topics}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Government agencies established in 1976
Category:1976 establishments in Bangladesh
Category:Organisations based in Dhaka
Category:Government agencies of Bangladesh
Category:Telecommunications in Bangladesh
Category:Telecommunications regulatory authorities
Category:Regulators of Bangladesh
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