Nahid Islam, Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, has directed to provide free diesel to keep mobile network towers in Feni district operational amidst ongoing power outages, reports UNB.
Nahid directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Saturday to ensure it in view of the current calamitous flooding in the region.
"Maintaining mobile connectivity is crucial during this crisis," Nahid said, stressing the importance of keeping the 78 network towers running. "The ongoing power outage poses a significant threat to communication, which is vital for coordinating relief efforts and ensuring public safety."
The demand for diesel is substantial: portable generators (PG) with a 75 kVA capacity consume 2.3 litres per hour, while diesel generators (DG) with a 30 kVA capacity require 4.4 litres per hour. To keep all 78 generators operational, approximately 6,552 litres of diesel are needed daily, leading to a daily expense of around Tk 714,168.
A total of 1235 mobile towers out of 13,491 in 10 flood-affected districts were out of order, according to the BTRC.
The districts are Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet, said a press release of BTRC issued on Friday.
Already the Bangladesh Army provided all out necessary assistance including vessels and speedboats to carry the equipment, generator and fuel to the mobile operators and tower operators to restore the services.
Besides, the towers which went under water would not be made functional until the improvement of the flood situation.
The authorities were providing charging facilities in the flood-hit areas where mobile networks were restored through generators.
Due to the deterioration of the flood situation in Moulvibazar and Sylhet district, there is possibility of telecommunication to get disrupted.
However, the mobile operators, tower co-operator and authorities are trying to re-store the mobile networks, it added.
