Get Aktel, get "network busy"

By Saif, Dhaka
5 February 2004, 18:00 PM
"Get Aktel, get mobile" is the promise that Aktel, the supposedly second largest mobile phone provider makes in their add; but to me it is more like "Get Aktel, get 'network busy' message." After a long wait in queue (some people came even before the office opened in the morning) and much unpleasant excitement, I finally managed to become a "proud" owner of the much vaunted Ashol Phone (during the first leg of distribution in December 2003 ). I felt like I have conquered the Everest because there were other less fortunate people who could not compete the elbow-hitting fight of getting a form for the phone. (As the officials did not like the queue and decided gave the form to competent fighters with strong elbows.)

I was more or less satisfied with the service, but for the last couple of months all I am getting is a flurry of "no reply" and "network busy" messages whenever I try to make a call and my friends and relatives wonder if I always leave my mobile set turned off, because they get the same message. The authority has not yet bothered to give any explanation of the sorry state of their network.

First I thought something was wrong with my mobile set, but it turned out to be alright and some friends of mine who happen to be the "valid" users of Aktel were facing the same problem. I got particularly annoyed during this Eid season. I failed to contact my friends and relatives who know that I own a mobile of the second largest mobile phone provider in Bangladesh. My mobile set is now nothing better than a cheap child's toy that is sold in the footpath. Now may I ask the authority that do you really care for your "valid" customers, will there be any explanation or will there be any end to this problem or should I buy another SIM of a different mobile service provider?

I just hope the customer "care" service cares to answer these queries.