GP-DPDC accord on e-bill service

Mohammad Hasnat Chowdhury, company secretary of DPDC, and Md Arif Al Islam, chief financial officer of Grameenphone, sign an agreement on e-billing services in Dhaka recently. Photo: GP

Grameenphone Ltd and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) signed an agreement to jointly launch the electronic bill payment service BillPay, first of its kind, for DPDC consumers, according to a press statement.
Grameenphone won the contract through an open bid called by the DPDC earlier this year.
This service will shortly allow all DPDC electricity consumers to pay their electric bills either from their GP handset or from any GP-authorised BillPay centres.
'BillPay' is a reliable and fast service, ensuring end-to-end transparency and ultimate convenience for DPDC consumers. This is the first time a mobile phone operator has launched such a service with 'universal access' for all, regardless of owning a mobile phone or not.
In December 2006, Grameenphone launched the BillPay.
Mohammad Hasnat Chowdhury, company secretary of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), and Md Arif Al Islam, chief financial officer of Grameenphone Ltd, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Professor M Tamim, special assistant to the Chief Adviser and in-charge of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, was present as the chief guest.
Mohammad Mohsin, energy secretary and chairman of the DPDC board of directors, Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan, power secretary, Md Ataul Masud, managing director of DPDC, and Delwar Hossain Azad, deputy director and head of financial services of Grameenphone, and other high officials from both parties were also present.
The service will be launched shortly for all electricity consumers in the DPDC area. In the initial phase, DPDC consumers will enjoy easy access to BillPay centres, open from 9 am to 10 pm everyday, at convenient locations. Consumers with mobile phones will get an immediate confirmation of bill payment from DPDC, when bills are paid correctly. Customers will also be able to query present and past bill status instantly via SMS or receive assistance from GP's modern, dedicated BillPay helpdesk.