Mobile phone tariff pressure group highlight burning issue

Bangladesh’s mobile operators have been the target of an ongoing campaign by a protest group named the Citizens Rights Movement, which is campaigning for the country’s cellcos to significantly lower their call charges. The protestors have alleged that per-minute tariffs are up to seven times higher than in neighbouring India and have called for an end to mobile companies ‘exploiting’ poor subscribers for ‘huge’ profits. Campaign events so far have included a human chain protest, student rallies and the symbolic burning of local operator GrameenPhone’s SIM cards. Some protesters have threatened to ‘lay siege’ to the operators’ headquarters if their price-slashing demands are not met.