13 July 2022

The Association of Mobile Telecom operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) said 45% of the mobile phone towers of the four telecom operators were still down due to electricity crisis in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts.

A statement issued by the national trade organisation said: “‘Most parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts in the northeastern part of the country have been inundated by the flood waters, disrupting power supply to those areas.”

Mobile service providers are trying to keep the network running with generators in those areas, it added. However, due to the disruption of road communication, it is becoming difficult to reach the generators at the sites.

AMTOB also said that delivering generator oil to the sites has become challenging.

In this situation, the mobile operators in collaboration with the Bangladesh Army, local administration and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission are trying to keep the telecommunication system running.

‘Around 45% of the sites of mobile carriers including Banglalink, Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts are still down,’ said AMTOB.

Due to lack of electricity, customers are not able to charge their handsets, in many cases, it said.

Several toll-free numbers have been introduced for those areas where customers do not have to spend any money to talk to these numbers, it said.