Talking too much!
According to a Star Business Report published on May 06, 2009, GrameenPhone (GP) made an operating profit of Taka 562.86 crore in the first three months of 2009, despite the global economic crisis. This is the largest profit made by any mobile phone operator anywhere in the world. This colossal profit indicates that Bangladeshis love to talk. A nation which talks too much performs less. It is a pity that the research organisations like CPD or BIDS have not made a study as to how much of these mobile calls are productive. According to my own study, 80% of these calls are unproductive. A rickshaw-puller whose average income per month is not more that Taka 3,000/- spends Tk 300.00 on mobile calls. A guardian has to invest in mobile phone for his/her ward for admission into school or college. The lower income group is investing more on mobile talk-time than in food and healthcare, resulting in malnourishment of the younger generation. The BTRC must do something to arrest mobile-addiction and should not take pride in contributing to the government large sums in taxes. If I remember correctly, Indian Parliament passed a bill 3 or 4 years ago prohibiting mobile operators from charging more than 50 paisa per minute. Our next budget session of parliament should pass a similar bill prohibiting mobile operators from charging more than 30 paisa per minute.
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