[ Last Page ] 2010-07-12

Telecom Bill 2010 proposes Tk 3.0b fine for ICT crime

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Post and Telecommunication Ministry Sunday placed its report on the Bangladesh Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2010 in the House, reports BSS. Committee chairman Hasanul Haque Inu placed the report with a recommendation for passage of the bill in an amended form. Earlier on June 13, Post and Telecommunication Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu tabled the bill aimed at bringing technological improvement in telecom sector and implementing the government’s Digital Bangladesh programmes. For ICT crime, the provision of charging of maximum Tk 3.0 billion fine instead of present Tk 1.0 million and five years jail has been proposed in the bill. It also proposed for inclusion of a provision for checking extortion through telephone and for maintaining country’s integrity and solidarity. As per the proposed bill, any person found involved in conducting an activity to damage national unity and solidarity by using telecommunication instruments or radio equipment and if it is assumed that those were for damaging for state, people and public safety would be charged with five years imprisonment or Tk 3.0 billion penalty or both. If anyone sends indecent message or threats for extortion or sends vulgar pictures or movies through using telecommunication or radio equipment, then both the sender and those who proposed would be given not less than two years jail or not less than Tk 50 million fine or both. The bill also proposed for forming a Social Responsibility Bill for bringing the people from the areas lagging behind under the telecom network. The bill also proposed for a provision for conducting investigation, run cases and disposal of cases related to telecom crimes. It was also proposed to enlist all crimes under mobile court law. The government has realised Tk 6.079 billion as revenue from the six mobile phone companies in the last fiscal year, Post and Telecommunication Minister told the House on the day. “Besides, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been realising various taxes and VAT from the mobile phone companies,” he said in reply to a question from BNP lawmaker Nazim Uddin Ahmed. Razu told BNP lawmaker Ashrafuddin Nizan that the state-run Teletalk Bangladesh Limited paid Taka 561.2 million as revenue to the government in the last fiscal year. Responding to another question from treasury bench member Golam Dastagir Gazi, the telecom minister said six mobile phone companies have been providing services to the people of the country. “The mobile phone users are now talking at the cost-effective rate as there is a competitive environment among the mobile phone companies. So there is no plan at this moment to provide new mobile phone licences,” he said. Answering to another question from ruling party lawmaker Anwar Hossain, the telecom minister hoped that it will be possible to provide VoIP call termination licenses from the current month or the next month if necessary formalities including amendment to laws and framing of guidelines are completed. Razu also told the House that his ministry has undertaken initiatives to provide telephone connections to nearly 0.2 million people in the capital. “To this end, a number of new telephone exchanges will be set up in the capital. Bangladesh Telephone Company Limited (BTCL) is implementing the project at a cost of Taka 2.0 billion,” he said in reply to a question from treasury bench member AKM Rahmatullah. Razu said the telephone exchanges would be equipped with broadband internet and modern optical fibre with wireless technology. “The BTCI is implementing the project from its own fund with a view to changing digital telephone exchange and system, he said. The telephone users of the city will also get caller ID facilities, broadband internet and modern technology, he said adding that the project will be completed by 2011. The telecom minister said subscribers under old model telephone exchanges would also be brought under the new facilities after 2011.