Tarana goes tough on lobbyists

Tarana Halim, the state minister for telecom, yesterday issued an order to prevent five senior executives of different telecom operators from entering the secretariat and telecom regulator's office.

The move was made as the executives were reportedly taking undue benefits for their companies by lobbying government officials.

The executives had earlier worked for Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission or Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd and later resigned to join the telecom companies, Tarana said.

"They seek extra benefits for their firms using their personal links with their former colleagues, which also affects our work environment," she told The Daily Star by phone.

Some of the officials might have given special benefits to the private telecom operators during their tenure as government employees, she said.

Tarana said they are looking for legal ways so government officials cannot join private telecom companies immediately after their retirement.