Mobile operators lose users for biometric SIM registration

Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The five private mobile operators saw their active connection numbers drop in January following the government move to make biometric verification mandatory for all subscribers.
The government launched biometric verification for SIM registration on December 16 last year.
At the end of January, the total active connections stood at 13.19 crore, down 17.64 lakh from the previous month, according to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Senior executives of different operators blamed the government move for the drop.
Total connections may decline further in future as sales of new SIM cards have almost ground to a halt and lots of unused SIMs are getting struck off.
If a SIM is not used for 90 days it can be declared inactive, according to the regulator's directive.
Another trend that has been observed following the imposition of the biometric verification is that those who previously used multiple SIM cards have stopped doing so. “We fear that this trend will continue for some time. The people who perhaps bought several SIM cards are now registering for one or two SIMs and the rest are becoming inactive,” said a senior official of a mobile phone operator.
Leading operator Grameenphone's customer base declined to 5.62 crore after it lost four lakh subscribers in January. Banglalink lost five lakh subscribers last month, which brought down its customer count to 3.23 crore.
Robi's total active connections fell to 2.77 crore after it lost six lakh subscribers last month.
Airtel lost two lakh customers, which brought down its total subscriber base to 1.05 crore.
At the end of January, Citycell's subscriber base stood at 8.67 lakh after it shed 14,000 connections.
Only state-run Teletalk's subscriber base increased in January as the operator is yet to run the biometric verification at the retail level. Last month, it added 68,000 new connections to take its subscriber base to 42.11 lakh.
The number of mobile internet users of Bangladesh, however, increased to 5.34 crore in January from 5.14 crore in the previous month.
“The industry is going through a transformation because of biometric registration. Maybe the decline is the direct effect of that,” said TIM Nurul Kabir, general secretary of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh.
He also expects that the transitional period will end and the industry will get back to registering growth.

Dairy, aqua and pet animal fair kicks off

55 companies showcase products and services

Star Business Report

A three-day fair of manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers in the animal health sector began in Dhaka yesterday to promote the country's dairy, aqua and pet animal industries.
Some 55 local and international companies are showcasing their products and services in 180 stalls at the third International Exhibition of  Dairy, Aqua and Pet Animals at Banga-bandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Manufacturers, importers, service providers and distributors of animal health and nutrition products, drug manufacturers, milk and meat processors, aqua hatcheries, dairy breeders, fish and dairy housing and equipment suppliers and frozen fish and meat exporters and importers are participating in the fair.
Animal Health Companies Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB) organised the fair in association with the fisheries and livestock services and commerce ministries.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the event while Narayan Chandra Chanda, state minister for livestock and fisheries, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, AKM Alamgir, president of the AHCAB, and M Nazrul Islam, secretary general of the association, also spoke.
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute is showcasing its new researched products such as cattle feed from the moringa tree and vegetable waste.
Findings have shown that if the cattle feed from the moringa tree is given to cattle, they give high quality milk and the weight of the cattle doubles, said Khairul Bashar, scientific officer of the government organisation.
American Dairy Ltd has taken the opportunity to display its products, such as ghee, yogurt and pasteurised milk.
At present, the company is supplying products to selected clients such as clubs and major restaurants in Dhaka as its production capacity is limited, said Karjon Saha, an executive officer of the company. 
Agrovet Division of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the country, is also showcasing its medicines and vaccines for poultry, cattle and fish.
The exhibition is open to visitors from 9am to 8pm every day until February 20. Forty-six research papers will be presented throughout the event.

Foreigners sent back $24m last fiscal year: Muhith

Star Business Report

Foreign nationals working in Bangladesh sent back $24 million, which is equivalent to Tk 187.20 crore, to their home countries in the last fiscal year.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith disclosed the information when asked by a lawmaker in parliament whether the two lakh foreign nationals working in the country remitted $5 billion.

In the last fiscal year $25.49 billion worth of garment products were exported. On the other hand, $218 million was spent on importing raw materials for the sector.

Muhith said, if the money sent abroad through letters of credit and remittances by foreign nationals are not counted, the net earning was $25.25 billion.