State-owned cellphone operator Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd yesterday launched its operation in Khagrachhari following Rangamati and Bandarban, covering now all the three hill districts.
Teletalk first started its service in Rangamati and Bandarban simultaneously at 5:00pm on Saturday and brought Khagrachhari under its network yesterday evening.
In accordance with the government directive, cellphone users in the three hill districts can enjoy the service only in the municipality areas.
"We have set up six towers in the three hill districts, two in each. Our service is primarily launched on trial basis and will be available within the municipal areas," said Md Shah Alam, general manager, Teletalk Chittagong zone.
Bangladesh Telephone Regulatory Commission (BTRC) allowed Teletalk on Thursday to launch it operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, added Shah Alam.
The CHT people get the much-expected service following assurance from Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed during his recent visit to Rangamati.
Enthusiastic mobile users, mostly youngsters who were waiting for the service for long, were seen yesterday roaming with cellphone sets in hand. Some were showing their sets in excitement.
However, they were facing problems in establishing connection. "Our handsets show network, but when we dial we cannot reach the destination as the network drops frequently," said Sushil Prasad Chakma in frustration.
The others private cellphone service providers -- Grameenphone, Aktel, Banglalink, Citycell, and Warid -- have yet to get clearance from BTRC to launch their operation in CHT.
These operators have however launched their advertise campaigns and are setting up towers.