Many of you might be surprised at the title, because you are feeling happy at the things BTRC is doing lately. But you are happy because you compare its current performance with its predecessors. The job of BTRC is to define and ensure the expectations of the general consumers.
The current BTRC is doing a superb job – most of you might have been thinking. If you are one of them, its probably a good time to do a reality check.
What qualitative change has BTRC ensured for the consumers of Bangladesh?
First of all, what is the citizen’s charter of BTRC? In other words, what is the mandate of BTRC?
Stopping stealing and giving licenses (both of which should have been done decades ago) to entrepreneurs for various activities are certainly a good thing. This is something that get the organization ready on their feet so that can start fulfilling the declared mandate for which it was created.
So, what we are trying to say – you might ask. There are tons of things to say. Let me start with one very basic one. But count on us to come back with more things – with more basic ones (if in the meantime, they can’t find those for themselves) and few forward looking ones.
We would keep giving BTRC a failing grade of 23 (if passing grade is 33) until and unless BTRC declares a time-bound roadmap for the license holder companies (BTTB, Grameen, RanksTel, etc) to offer the consumers a emergency help line service and other information services that requires different other government agencies (Police, Fire Service and Civil Defense Department, Social Service Ministry, Traffic Police, etc) to setup call center type facilities to respond to consumers in need and to supply information that consumers need. If you are not sure what we are talking about, for examples, see below the attached list of countries and their corresponding numbers for different services to consumers that is enforced by the regulatory bodies of respective countries.
Among us, there will be many who would say how come BTRC do those unless police, fire brigade or social service ministries do not ask for it? Some others will say, those services will not work in Bangladesh, the examples you give are from developed countries. Our answer to those will be – BTRC should arrange few public hearing on these services and call the respective agency chiefs and concerned ministry officials (as well as concerned advisers, if necessary!) to be present in those public hearings. Also, make arrangements so that the interested TV channels, Radio channels and Web sites want to carry those hearings live, if they want to. You will see how your thinking changes overnight or within few days. You have to set the public expectation – you have to give the people a platform to express their need and what they are ready for. Once you do that, you will find out the results for yourselves. We are sure that you will be surprised to discover what we, as a populace, are capable of.
Since the BTRC is yet get to the pass mark level, we would refrain from listing more of its mandated things which should follow naturally. Hope that they will hear us now.
If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columnists in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.
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