HC issues rule on unused mobile data and minutes carryover

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule upon the respondents to explain why they should not be directed to include the unused mobile internet data, talk time and SMSs in the next packages purchased by the users.

The respondents including the Posts and Telecommunications secretary and the chairman of Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) have been asked to comply with the rule within the next four weeks.

The High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Mizanur Rahman filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation.

The lawyer himself also moved the petition before the court.

The lawyer in his plea said no telecom companies are following the BTRC rule of adding the unused internet data, talk time and SMSs in the next package and doing whatever they want.

"I had sent legal notices for taking immediate actions in this regard on January 13 to Posts and Telecommunications Secretary, BTRC Chairman and authorities of Grameenphone, Robi Axiata, Banglalink and Teletalk. As they did not take any action, I filed the writ with the High Court (HC)," the petitioner said.

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association (BMPCA), a platform of mobile phone users, has long been demanding mobile phone operators adjust the unused data to the subsequent packages.

According to the BTRC website, Bangladesh has total 131.1 million internet users until December 2024.

Among the users, 117.07 million are purchasing internet data from the mobile phone operators and the remaining 14.04 million purchasing from ISP and PSTN.