The issue of sending a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to proceed with the controversial project of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) is being misinterpreted, said Faiz Ahmed Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Principal Advisor on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

He said this at a press conference organized at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday (July 7). Ahmed Tayyab said that the issue of sending a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission to proceed with the controversial project of BTCL is being misinterpreted. The ACC’s assistance has been sought not for personal interest but for the interest of the country. Discussions and criticism are going on regarding his DO letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission regarding the release of funds for the 5G Readiness project undertaken during the tenure of the previous Awami League government. Faiz Ahmed wrote in the DO letter, “Considering the larger interests of the country, it is absolutely necessary to prevent the backwardness of 5G readiness, prevent BTCL from falling behind technically, ensure the implementation rate of ADP, and to continue the activities of the project titled ‘Development of BTCL’s Optical Fiber Transmission Network’ to make BTCL 5G suitable for BTCL. I seek your attention and support in this regard.” He further wrote in the letter that before paying the bill to the contracting company for the purchase of the project’s equipment, an expert committee will examine whether the equipment is suitable for 5G or not and whether it will provide service for the next minimum of 12 years. It is to be noted that the ACC investigation team and the BUET expert team have already found the initial truth of irregularities and corruption in this project.