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Woes of city's telephone subscribers

By Shehab Ahmed
Woes of telephone subscribers in the city are multiplying with one call, according to a recent World Bank study, taking usually three attempts to make, but not always without guarantee of landing in a wrong nupiber
As frustrated subscribers count their balooning bills, the authorities offer no remedy in immediate future, at least for those still using the analog system
And where digital technology is available, like the over worked Nilkhet telephone ex-
change. 19.500 digital lines are available for Tk 10.000 each.
Even this exchange serves subscribers in other areas because of the surplus connections available.
A French firm. Alcatel had in the recent past criss-crossed the city, laying cables for the digital connections to replace the vintage system including the 10.000 capacity Nilkhet exchange.
But the subscribers hoping for a fair deal are in for a raw deal. The exchange would continue to serve them under ana-
log system for at least J 5 years. Like other city areas it would not be converted free. Those who can afford are being advised lo install digital That too is not so easy.
Hopes had lighted many hearts when some areas under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar exchange, stretching from the immediate vicinity of the exchange to Dhanmondi road number 7. had automatic conversion last year. But the subscribers who live in Mohammadpur. Shy-moli wait in frustration. Similarly, subscribers In Nilkhet
are forced to take it stoically.
Sources in the Telegraph and Telephone Board said they had a plan to automatically convert the Nilkhet exchange to digital system.
But someone in Finance Ministry had a better idea. Whey not fleece the Nilkhet exchange subscribers? They thought most subscribers have businesses in the Gausia. New Market, Elephant Road shopping areas.
So the automatic conversion receives the least priority. Even
the residents of Mohanunadpur have to wait. Because, informed sources say. there are not many who have muscles to flex in these areas to change the authorities' decision.
Even the residents of old Dhaka have been forgotten in the mire of bureaucratic indecision.
A Japanese aided project to provide 60,000 telephones in the area, covering the business hubs of Chawkbazar. Maul-vibazar and Keraniganj, across the river. Ues in the cold.
Instead, some people are toying with the idea of introducing a loop system without wires to provide immediate relief.
But the residents of Nara-yanganj and Tongi are going to have the privilege of conversion into digital system in the middle of next month. T&T sources said.
They said in Moghbazar exchange 14000 subscribers got the privilege along with 13000 under Ramna exchange and others in parts of Dhanmondi. Mohammadpur, Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla • Nagar areas. Earlier, entire Uttara. parts of Gulshan and Baridhara had conversions to digital system.
But why there should be discrimination in making digital connections available to all in the same way? There was no answer from the T&T.