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Tale of telephone trauma

From Hossain Seraj
MAGURA. Mar 13: Telephone owners in Mhgura are paying through the nose as the fax and phone businessmen have ganged up with some unscrupulous employees of the BTTB (Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board) here to run their very profitable illegal shops.
All most all the general subscribers In the districts have been paying three to four times more than the normal bill every month. "They arc providing Ous with ghost bills off and on. We hardly make any NWD calls. But our monthly bills read that we did it regularly. Previously, the billings ranged between Taka 400-600, but it went up to Taka 4500 on one occasion." alleged Syed Azliarul Haq. whose family owns this telephone line for more than three decades.
Investigation revealed that nearly 200 subscribers of Magura town have been getting very suspicious slim bills, thanks to their under-the-table dealings with the BTTB officials. Of them. 65 owners run illegal telephone and fax business.
According to the BTTB rules, one needs to deposit Taka 50 thousand as security money to run a phone-fax business. In reality, none of the shop owners deposits the security money as they can obtain personal security from a few corrupt BTTB employees in exchange of a meagre monthly allowance.
Under a verbal contract, they receive Taka 2,000 to 2,500 per month and Issue a bill of Tk 500 or 600 to the subscribers. And those who do not entertain them invariably get a ghost-
bill.
The moneymaking authorities turn a deaf ear whenever a complaint is lodged. "It's an open secret that they are party to the unlawful affair. Whenever we approach the authorities concerned they appear nonchalant." complained another user.
Subscribers also alleged that the outgoing channels of Magura BTTB remain always busy because of this unfair business. One hears an engage tone or a metallic noise most of the time when he or she dials 2 for Dhaka or any code of the nation wide dialling (NWD).
When contacted, Kartik Chandra Sarkar. Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Magura Telephone and Telegraph Board admitted that a faulty telecommunication system did exist. But when asked about the Illegal telephone and fax business, he told this correspondent. "I have Joined here a few days back. If anything happens like this it is beyond my knowledge. Stern action will be taken if anybody of my department found guilty."
But the Illegal business is going on in full swing Just under their nose. One can find numbers of shops at the MR Road, Sayed Ator Ali Road. Dhaka Road and Natun Bazar street. Telephones in ticket counters of various transport agencies at Magura bus stand are also being operated under this popular pact.
The magneto board-system of Magura exchange was established in 1964 with 25 lines, which was extended up to 100 lines in 1970 under the Central
Battery (CB) System. In 1985. an automatic exchange with 400 lines was installed adjacent to the Microwave station at Magura suburb. Subsequently, It was turned into NWD system with 15 outgoing and 20 incoming channels. Three hundred new lines-were Included during the BNP rule while another 300 In the last fiscal year.
Although the lines got increased. users here are yet get the benefit of a digitalised telephone system. Due to the faulty telecommunication of analogue system subscribers have been coping with the inaudible sound, cross-connection and ghost-call all the time. Many subscribers complained, they hear two persons speaking at the same time from two different sets whenever they pick up their sets. Very often calls go to the wrong number causing financial loss to the caller and annoyance to the receiver. Sometimes a caller gets his desired number following four-five abortive attempts.
"I think, digitalisation of our telephone system is the only solution to our problems. Digital system only can reduce the corruption, cross-connection and other problems we are now having.said Anu Mia, a leading businessman of Magura.
UNB from Kushtia reports: When the government emphasises rapid expansion of telecommunication network, the lone cardphone in Khoksa thana remained out of order.
Locals alleged that the cardphone went out of order within days of its installation and none bothered to restore its service.