DHAKA: Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), despite a public limited company since its inception, has been governed by a board of directors with majority of them bureaucrats.
BTCL came into being from now-defunct Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) on June 30 in 2008 with the government owning all its shares.
However, the company is yet to come out from the grip of the ministry, sources said.
Competent sources said five out of nine board members are bureaucrats who are the secretaries from Post & Telecommunications, Finance, Information and Commerce Ministries.
Other members include Prof Dr Muhammad Jafar Iqbal and FBCCI director Abu Alam.
In March this year, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) released a report laying emphasis on the reconstruction of public-owned telecom company BTCL aimed at reducing government influence and making it more competent.
Though the BTCL started from July 1 under the Company Law, it is uncertain if it will be freed from bureaucrats’ interference to run independently, officials concerned added.
MA Taleb, Secretary, BCS Telcom Samity told banglanews24.com.bd, “The objective of turning it into a company will go in vain, if BTCL board of directors is not reformed.”
Requesting anonymity, an official said despite it has become a company, the government owns its cent percent shares.
It is yet to be decided how the officials and employees of the now-defunct BTTB will continue their services in the company, he added.
"The employees of the autonomous body want to come out from bureaucracy for working independently," he added.
The company should also be freed from all sorts of interference in decision-making including manpower recruitment, he said adding that recruitment should be made on the basis of competence and skill.
Afsarul Alam, acting managing director of BTCL said BTCL as a company is run under ownership of the government.
However, its outlook will be changed once it will start working in full swing, he said.
BDST 2105 HRS, AUG 8, 2010
