130 out of 138 telephones out of order!

But the subscribers have to pay line rent every month without availing telephone facility, many of the subscribers told this correspondent.

To get rid of the problem, they submitted several memorandums to the telecommunication minister through the local administration, brought out processions and held rallies demanding restoration of the lines, but to no effect.

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They said their business is being greatly hampered. Patkelghata, 13 kilimetres from the district town, is an important business centre.

They said the telephone lines went out of order as some cable lines were disconnected when the Satkhira-Khulna road was cut at several points in Binerpota area to flash out flood water in 2000. The cables have not been repaired since then, claimed Sarulia Union Parishad Chairman Matiar Rahman and submitted memorandums to the concerned authorities including the PM to press home their demand but to no effect.

Matiur Rahman, a retired scientist of Atomic Energy Commission and resident of the area said, "We submitted an application to the Chief Engineer of Khulna Telephone Zone to withdraw the line rent bill. But no action was taken".

On contact, Sub-Assistant engineer Ensan Uddin in Satkhira said, a project to set up a digital telephone exchange at Patkelghata was taken up last year but there has not been any progress due to delay in acquisition of land.