Penalise, but let companies run
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the authorities concerned to fine telephone operators involved in 'illegal' VoIP business instead of shutting those down.
"Penalise those instead of shutting them down so that people get the services," the premier was quoted by a minister as saying.
The directive came at the weekly cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat with Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Sources said one of the ministers brought to the premier's attention that revenue increased due to the shutdown of illegal VoIP operators, including some land phone companies.
In response, Hasina asked him why those operators had not been closed earlier.
Another minister then drew her attention to penalising illegal VoIP operators during the last caretaker government's tenure. He mentioned that Tk 800-crore fine was realised from mobile phone companies including GrameenPhone, AKTEL, Banglalink, CityCell and some other private landline operators for illegal VoIP business.
The prime minister then directed the authorities concerned to do so, meeting sources told The Daily Star.
The government recently shut down five private land phone operators including RanksTel, Dhaka Phone, National Phone, People's Tel and World Tel for their alleged involvement in illegal VoIP business.
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