The post and telecommunications secretary Sunil Kanti Bose made the announcement at a press briefing on Thursday.

Bose said the government would allow 3000 operators to run international telephone call termination operations through the internet—a technology popularly called VoIP (voice over internet protocol).

The government would initiate the process within three to four months.

“Almost 3000 operators will be given licenses that will be able to run their business with an investment of Tk 2 lakh – 2.5 lakh each”, he said.

“Licenses will be issued at a cost less than before and it will reduce international call costs too.”

He, however, declined to mention any licenses fees.

Although Bose referred the potential licensees as international call termination operator, they would virtually act in the same manner as international gateways.

BTRC had earlier issued VoIP licences to three private companies — Mir Telecom, Novotel and BanglaTrac Communications– permitting them to make international calls over internet on February, 2008.

It was generally understood that these companies would be exclusively handling all international calls through VoIP.

At the time, Tk 150 million was charged as license fees and Tk 75 million was set as renewal fee per year for each license.

BTRC also gave the companies license on condition of sharing more than 50 percent revenue with the government.

The ministry has drawn up a regulation titled ‘International Long Distance Telecommunications Services’ for making international calls over internet.

“Under the new regulation, companies will apply to BTRC for the license. Following examination of the applications by BTRC, the ministry will give the final approval”, the secretary said.

The prior regulation had no provision for providing VoIP licenses.

Responding to a query about how the former three VoIP licenses were given without regulations, the secretary said, “If needed regulations will be formulated. The prime minister has told us to make new regulations needed to implement policies.”

The telecom secretary also revealed that the new regulations have already received cabinet approval and will be placed in the parliament’s next session for approval.

Telecom minister Raziuddin Ahmed Raju also spoke at the news briefing.

He said that the government will be selling one lakh laptops across the country priced at Tk 10,000-12,000 each within the next year.

The minister also said that the government has already made an agreement with a foreign company in this regard.

This will be the first countrywide hartal during the current tenure of the current government since January 2009.

The BNP chairperson made the call on Wednesday at a grand rally in Dhaka to protest the prevailing utilities crisis, tender-grabbing, extortion and demanding resignation of the Election Commission and cancellation of treaties with India.

She also announced a mass sit-in at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh on June 9 protesting ‘government interference into the judicial system’.

The opposition chief alleged that the government has made the parliament ineffective.

Clearly hinting that she thought it was time for the government to quit, Khaleda said, “An effective parliament can only come through a general election dissolving the present one.”

She criticised the salary hike of prime minister, president and ministers, saying that the people were suffering because of high prices essential commodities.

“Salaries of the ministers and MPs were increased as essentials’ prices are going up,” she said.

“I would not have any objection if people could have three square meals per day.”

Khaleda claimed that the ninth general election under the military-backed caretaker government was not free and fair.

She said, “We participated in the election to remove an ‘illegal’ government which had taken power under the stewardship of the army.”

“But we never had any entente with illegal governments, not even with that of Ershad.”

Without mentioning any name but clearly indicating Hasina, the prime minister, Khaleda said, “One had promised ratification of the emergency government, before going abroad.”

Thus insinuating that Hasina had entered into an illicit alliance with the interim regime, Khaleda said, “She knew that she would come to power.”

The Election Commission (EC), assisted by the caretaker government, tried to break up the BNP, she said.

“(EC) tried to make someone else chairperson of the BNP. They had also selected a secretary general.”

But they failed because of BNP leaders and supporters.

She also said her sons—Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman—were sent to jail to restrain them from waging a movement.

“Tarique was well before going to jail, but his spine was broken because of brutal torture,” she claimed.

Source : bdnews24.com