DHAKA: Axiata senior leadership and Robi officials have extended a warm welcome to the Airtel employees who have opted to join the merged company.

A colorful ceremony was organized at a city hotel on Tuesday (November 22) to mark the occasion, says a press release issued on Wednesday (November 23).

With everyone clad in the unique Robi Punjabi, the gathering took on a festive look.

Robi’s senior management team members were all present to welcome the new joiners in the merged company.

Robi’s chief corporate and people officer Matiul Islam Nowshad conducted the event as the Master of Ceremony.

Video messages from the Posts and Telecommunications (PTD) State Minister Tarana Halim, MP, PTD Secretary Md. Faizur Rahman Chowdhury and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood for Robi-the merged company were played at the event.

Video message from Axiata’s Managing Director/President & Group CEO Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim was also played on the occasion.

State Minister, in her video message, congratulated Robi family on beginning this new journey with a new spirit.

Terming Digital Bangladesh as the prime element of Prime Minister’s Vision 2021, she expressed her optimism that Robi would start working with new enthusiasm for implementing the vision by widening its network so that each and every Bangladeshi even in the remote corners comes under its coverage.

BTRC Chairman Dr. Mahmood, in his video message, congratulated Robi for successfully completing the first ever merger of the country in the telecom sector.

He said: “I am confident that this merger will increase competitiveness in the telecom sector. This competitiveness would ultimately help our consumers. They’ll get better services.”

“While completing the merger process, we had emphasized on the best interests of the employees – whether they opt to join the new company or not,” his message added.

PTD Secretary Faizur Rahman also highlighted that the merger will ultimately benefit the customers the most.

He congratulated all the employees of this new company and wished the merged company a successful future.

Axiata Chief Tan Sri Jamaludin, in his video message, said: “Bangladeshi telecom market is highly competitive; merger with Airtel now puts us in a position to expand our business with innovative products and services. I am sure the merged company will be able to win the hearts and minds of its subscribers by ensuring exceptional quality of service for them.”

Axiata’s Regional CEO for South Asia Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya and Dialog Axiata Plc, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider’s Group's Deputy Chief Executive and CEO designate, Supun Weerasinghe were also present on the occasion.

Supun will be succeeding Dr Hans as the Dialog’s CEO effective on January 1, 2017.

In his address to the new joiners, Dr. Hans explained Axiata’s vision behind the merger and encouraged the employees to work towards transforming into the Next Generation Digital Company by 2021.

Supun shared his experience of working on the merger and gave a speech to the employees requesting them the pull up their socks and get to work immediately to make this merger a successful one.

Robi’s Managing Director and CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed in his speech said: “We are very glad to have majority of the Airtel employees joining the merged company. I am sure with your hard work and dedication we will be able to be the market leader in the near future.”

PD Sarma, the CEO of erstwhile Airtel Bangladesh was formally given farewell by the Robi management along with the new joiners in Robi from Airtel.

Robi’s Management Council (MC) members thanked Sarma for his tireless efforts in ensuring the successful merger of Robi and Airtel. The MC members handed memento to Sarma as a token of appreciation.

Robi Axiata Limited has set sail as the merged company on November 16, 2016.

The completion of merger process follows the September 9, 2015 announcement of both parties entering into an exclusive discussion to explore possibility of combining the business operations in Bangladesh.

In completing the merger, Axiata now holds 68.7 percent controlling stake in the combined entity, while Bharti holds 25 percent. The remaining 6.3 percent will be held by the existing shareholder, NTT DOCOMO of Japan.

BDST: 1535 HRS, NOV 23, 2016
SR/SMS