BTRC asked to shut mobile network in border

The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology has reportedly sent a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) asking it to shut the mobile phone network in the country’s border areas. When contacted, BTRC Assistant Director (Media Wing) Zakir Hossain Khan admitted that a letter has been sent from the telecommunications and information technology ministry to the BTRC. The BTRC official said that mobile phone operators will soon be directed to stop network in a bid to prevent smuggling, particularly contraband Yaba tablet smuggling and human trafficking. A reliable source at telecommunications and information technology ministry on Wednesday said the authorities concerned have decided to stop different kinds of smuggling, incuding illegal trade off of Yaba and human trafficking through mobile banking. According to the letter, the government has decided to keep the mobile network in the border areas limited only inside the territory of Bangladesh. All the mobile phone operators must limit their network in border areas inside the territory of Bangladesh. A highly placed source at the ministry said smuggling, illegal trade of Yaba and people smugglers gangs are committing different crimes in the border areas, particularly with Myanmar, using networks of the mobile operators, according to a news agency.