Tangled mess of overhead cables posing risk

Golam Mostafa Jibon : A mess situation is prevailing at different parts of the city due to overhead cables that posing risk of fatal accidents.
Though, there was an ultimatum to remove the wires for the years, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC), Power Department, DNCC and DSCC have become failure to remove the hanging cables from the roads in the capital.
Like the two organizations, the two city corporations are also taking relief from the liabilities by carrying out some drives and cutting off some wire connections.
For the few years, they have been setting one date after another for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Cable Operators (COAB). But none of it is working. After the expiration of the time given by the City Corporations in March last year, concerned executive magistrates started removing the wires by conducting raids in different areas for a few days. However, at the end of the operation, ISP and COAB take very little time to hang those again.
The city dwellers have raised questions about the effectiveness of digital services hanging on the roads. The city dwellers call the removal of such tangled mess of overhead wires a nightmare.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (BTRC) took the initiative in 2007 to remove the suspension to enhance the beauty of the capital’s roads and provide uninterrupted high speed internet service at low cost. The power department later joined the commission to make the initiative a success. These two organizations have been trying for 14 years to remove the garbage in the capital. The BTRC and the power department held meetings with the concerned organizations, but to no effect.
Internet service providers (ISPs) and cable operators have been repeatedly given ultimatums. The hanging wire has been cut by forming a committee and conducting one or two raids from time to time. But the roads did not take more than 2-4 hours to get back to their previous shape. After the failure of BTRC and power department, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) took initiative to remove those several times, but to no effect.
Later, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar and State Minister for Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak suspended the program in a meeting with ISPB and COAB. After meeting with the mayor of South City Corporation, an agreement was signed in this regard.
Emdadul Haque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPAB) said, “At first, we wanted two years. I couldn’t work because of Corona. It would be possible to remove it from the main roads by January 2023.”