BANGLADESH

The telecoms regulator has decided that starting February, it will not allow mobile phones that do not have Bangla keypads into Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission chairman Zia Ahmed told on Sunday the importers had been informed of the decision.

"Instructions have been issued so that these phones don't come through the airport or the sea ports either," Ahmed added.

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association hailed the step but urged BTRC to be flexible about some 200,000 mobile sets that were pending import.

"The association will do its best to support the decision. But we have some 200,000 mobile phones import imminent. The BTRC should be flexible about that," Association president Nijamuddin Jitu said.

The association has 210 members who are involved in importing mobile handsets.

BTRC says the ban was pressed to push the usage of Bangla in mobile phones into trend and increase the ease of use.

When asked about instructions on touch screen mobiles, the BTRC chief said so far the directive was for phones with keypad which were more commonly used.

"Gradually we will order the usage of Bangla in the more enhanced mobiles," he added.

BTRC warned importers in November that a decision to ban phones without Bangla keypads was coming. At that time the regulator also banned mobile operators from importing mobile phones.