Policy approved to involve private operators in VoIP

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FE Report
The much-talked-about "voice over internet protocol' (VoIP) business is set to get a legal cover in the country as the council of advisers approved Saturday in principle the 'International Long Distance Telephone Service (ILDTS) Policy.
Chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, the weekly meeting of the council gave the approval, aiming to accelerate the country's economic activities through maximum utilisation of the capacity of the submarine cable, an official handout said.
The council in its April 28 meeting decided to open up the modern telecommunication facility - VoIP -- for private operators against the backdrop of its illegal use by a section of telephone operators and internet service providers (ISPs).
Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications placed the proposed ILDTS policy before the council of advisers for approval.
The council of advisers also approved the revised draft of the Memorandum of Association and Article of Association of the newly converted Bangladesh Airlines Limited.
With this, all the necessary legal formalities have been completed to turn the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBA) into a public entity.
President Iajuddin Ahmed has already approved the Bangladesh Biman Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 for converting the Biman into a public limited company (PLC).
Besides, the meeting also approved the proposed amendment to the 'Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance-2007 in order to give the general waiver provision a permanent shape for compulsory use of local ships for carrying at least 40 per cent of export-import cargoes.
Such an amendment will resolve the problems of Bangladeshi exporters and importers in signing long-term agreements with foreign buyers and sellers. Thus, it will also help expedite the country's trade and economic activities, the handout said.
Apart from those, the meeting also gave approval to the proposed draft on the 'Bar Council (Temporary Provision) Ordinance-2007, setting December 31, 2007 as the deadline for holding the Bar Council election.
The meeting was informed that the tenure of the elected Bar Council had already expired.
Although its election was due to be held before May 31 last under Article 8 of the Bar Council rules, it could not take place due to imposition of the state of emergency in the country.