No bar on BTRC to monitor international call traffic

The High Court today upheld the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's (BTRC) decision to monitor international call traffic.

The court summarily rejected a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the BTRC's decision.

The High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam passed the rejection order after hearing arguments on the petition.

BTRC's lawyer Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib told The Daily Star that the High Court rejected the writ petition as the petitioner did not agree with the BTRC's decision.

"BTRC can monitor the international call traffic." he said.

International Getway operators--DBL Telecom, Bangla Tel Limited and BG Tel Limited collectively submitted the petition on May 4 challenging the legality of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's decision to run IGW operators switch (IOS) for monitoring international call traffics.

They also prayed to the HC to stay the BTRC's decision, saying that the BTRC cannot create IOS for monitoring the call traffic without giving IGW operators license.

Ajmalul Hossain and MK Rahman appeared for the petitioners, while Additional Attorney General Murad Reza and Khandaker Reza-E Raquib argued for BTRC.