BTRC warns against use of illegal radio devices
FE REPORT | Sunday, 29 November 2020
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued a warning notice on the use of radio devices illegally.
It warned against buying, selling, distributing and using walkie-talkie, jammer, network booster and repeater.
In a recent public warning notice, BTRC Spectrum division said buying, selling, distributing and using radio devices without licence or permission is illegal in Bangladesh.
BTRC director (spectrum) Md Sohel Rana said it has been observed that some dishonest businessmen or agencies are importing, distributing, showcasing, renting and selling or using radio frequency devices.
The devices include mobile phone handset, tablet PC, walkie-talkie set, base, repeater, fixed wireless phone and modem.
Mr Rana said a BTRC team has seized large numbers of such radio apparatus during different drives in recent times.
According to section 55 of the Telecommunication Regulatory Act-2001, no person shall, without a licence, establish, operate or use a radio apparatus for the purpose of radio communication in the land or territorial waters of Bangladesh or in the space above them, nor shall he use any radio frequency other than the frequency allocated by the commission.
If a person commits such offence, the same section says, he shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine not exceeding Tk 1.0 million or both.
A BTRC source said such warning came following a recent incident where son of a sitting parliamentarian was found possessing and using walkie-talkies illegally.
Last month, Erfan Selim, son of Awami League leader and lawmaker Haji Selim, and his bodyguard Zahidur Rahman were sentenced to one year in jail for possessing walkie-talkies illegally.
A mobile court jailed them after recovery of illegal alcohol and walkie-talkies during a drive in the residence of Mr Erfan on October 26.
Mr Erfan was sentenced to six months' jail in connection with seizure of illegal alcohol and another six months for possessing walkie-talkies illegally.
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