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Telecom operators in Bangladesh will send all their promotional and system-generated text messages and notifications in Bangla from Sunday onwards.
Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated the service at an event held at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) conference room in Dhaka.
Various telecom operators have been sending Bangla promotional and system-generated text messages and notifications to some degree already, BTRC Director General Brig Gen Nasim Parvez mentioned at the event.
“It pleases me that mobile operators are sending 1.51 crore promotional and system-generated text messages and notifications in Bangla every day,” the minister said, quoting BTRC official data.
The new service will help customers understand text messages easily, the minister stated, adding that the service was also launched to commemorate the language movement martyrs.
“We are happy to launch the service on the eve of February 21, the month of our language movement,” he added.
Post and Telecommunications Division Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder, Banglalink Chief Corporate Regulatory Officer Taimur Rahman, Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman, and Robi acting CEO M Riyaaz Rasheed also spoke at the event.
BTRC Director General showed a powerpoint presentation at the event. In it, he stated that Grameen Phone was yet to complete 8 per cent of the work needed to transition fully to Bangla featured service.
On the other hand, Robi had 15 per cent, Banglalink 5 per cent and Teletalk 11 per cent work left in this regard.
Brig Gen Nasim Parvez also urged all operators to complete transitioning to Bangla promotional and system-generated text messages and notifications within 30 June.
In 2021, BTRC directed mobile operators to charge text messaging at half the rate compared to English to promote communication in Bangla.
