BTCL land phone: Time for revival

Once land phone was a most sought after thing in our country and even a lineman was an important person whom everyone having a phone connection at office or home, knew. Those golden days of land phone are gone. Thanks to the mobile phone operator, almost everyone in the country has a mobile phone  and people do not have to wait for connection.  When we visit the office of BTCL, we do not see much activity there. Most of the people who work there spend their time idly.

 If the present situation of BTCL does not improve, soon they will be totally out-of-business. Already they have lost much of their market and they hardly get new customers. In our office we have a land  phone but no one uses it. I do not even bother to memorise the land line number. When someone asks about its number I have to check in my mobile phone-book. By land line we cannot send sms or listen to music or browse internet. So it is outdated and out of fashion.  If the BTCL can update their services and eliminate harassment only then they can expect to stand on their feet again. Otherwise it will be difficult for the state-owned company to even survive in the present market. It is high time BTCL adopted new technology and changed with time.

 Mohammad Sohel Hara

Bonoshree, Dhaka