999 new national help desk number

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has decided to allocate a three digit short code '999' to the ICT division of the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology for using as its national help desk number.

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"This helpdesk number is toll-free," according to an allotment letter signed by BTRC Deputy Director Md Mesbahuzzaman on September 5.

Previously allotted short codes 2041 and 16666 for the help desk were cancelled by the regulators, the letter said.

In the letter, BTRC said that short code 999 was allocated to the ICT Division to run its national help desk and it will be free of charge. 

The services will be provided under the national help desk, which is being set up at a cost of Tk 60.50 crore. The help desk will be rolled out shortly, according to officials of the ICT division.

The telecommunication regulator initially allotted 2041 and 16666 short codes for the help desk, but upon ICT State Minister's Zunaid Ahmed Palak's request the second code was changed to a three-digit one.

At present, dialling 100 would connect to Bangladesh Police, 101 to Rapid Action Battalion, 102 to fire services, 103 to ambulance service and 104 to the Access to Information Programme under the Prime Minister's Office.

Currently, the ICT division runs a customer complaint centre on the 16364 short code. Earlier, State Minister for Telecom Tarana Halim said she planned to bring all the emergency services under a simple three-digit short code.