A coordination meeting took place at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in Agargaon on Tuesday afternoon to address challenges faced by telecommunication infrastructure during disasters and to discuss urgent mitigation strategies.
The meeting was chaired by Brigadier General Iqbal Ahmed (Retd), Commissioner of BTRC’s Engineering and Operations Division, and brought together representatives from government agencies, private telecom operators, and disaster management bodies. There was unanimous agreement on the need for a sustainable, national-level policy to protect telecom infrastructure against natural disasters.
Brigadier General Shafiul Azam Parvez, Director General of BTRC’s Engineering and Operations Department, highlighted critical issues during disasters, including extended power outages, network failures, damaged fiber and microwave links, disrupted broadband and data centers, fuel shortages for backup generators, and limited technician access to remote locations.
Mobile network operators and Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) providers urged the designation of telecom services as “emergency services” and called for closer coordination with the Power Development Board and Rural Electrification Board to ensure continuous power supply during emergencies.
The Bangladesh Satellite Company emphasized the installation of permanent VSAT equipment, generators, and solar panels in high-risk areas, leveraging disaster vulnerability data from the Planning Commission. Tower sharing companies recommended that BTRC mandate permanent generators at key tower sites and suggested color-coding disaster-prone zones to guide infrastructure investment priorities.
The Rural Electrification Board discussed power line disconnections in rural regions due to falling trees and plans to strengthen transmission infrastructure with new designs and insulators, especially in coastal zones.
The Department of Disaster Management welcomed the input and invited stakeholders to contribute recommendations for inclusion in the government’s forthcoming five-year disaster management plan.
Brigadier General Iqbal Ahmed stressed the importance of operators addressing their vulnerabilities while collaborating to integrate telecom needs into the national disaster response framework. He stated, “Only through structured planning, cross-agency collaboration, and categorized problem-solving can we ensure a resilient telecommunication system during emergencies.”
Attendees included representatives from the Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Submarine Cable Company, Meteorological Department, internet and satellite operators, among others.
