Employees vow to resist move to restructure BTTB

The government has already formed a five-member committee to turn the BTTB into a public limited company and offload its shares in phases, said Abdul Quayyum, coordinator of the committee, at a press conference.

Handing over the mobile venture to Teletalk is a prelude to the offloading of shares in the public operator, he said.

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The committee leaders said the BTTB can offer a competitive call tariff of mobile phone as low as Tk 1 per minute if it itself operates the mobile venture.

The BTTB is one of the profit-making organisations and it paid over Tk 1600 crore to the government exchequer last year, they said.

They leaders said thousands of workers and employees have been passing their days in a state of uncertainty as the restructuring of the BTTB will lead to job losses.

They also alleged that the BTTB had obtained licence in the Board's name but now it is handing over its operation to Teletalk.

The leaders urged the government to regularise 5,000 casual workers who have been working side by side permanent staffs.

They also urged the government to regularise services of 350 staffs appointed in 1989-90 under special quota.

The committee announced that the employees will hold agitation programmes at different BTTB installations on January 15 and 16. A grand rally will also be held on February 9 in the capital.

BTTB CBA President Firoj Miah, Secretary General of Bangladesh Telejogajog Sramik Karmachari Parishad Md Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Hakim Miah and MA Mukit attended the press conference.