Telecom operators, from now on, will have to send all their promotional and system-generated text messages and notifications in Bangla.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) took the initiative, coinciding with the International Mother Language Day, to promote Bangla language and make the messages understandable to the major portion of people.
The BTRC officials said the feature will be beneficial for more than 65 per cent of mobile users in Bangladesh, who still use feature phones, not smart-phones, and those who cannot read English text.
Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar launched the service at an event at the BTRC on Sunday.
Speaking at the event, the telecom minister said they have done it to commemorate the 1952 Language Movement martyrs.
"We are doing it to help the customers understand the SMS easily," the minister added.
BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder, Post and Telecommunications Division Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman, Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman, Robi acting CEO M Riyaaz Rasheed, and Banglalink Chief Corporate Regulatory Officer Taimur Rahman also spoke.
Last year, on the International Mother Language Day, mobile phone operators halved the cost of sending SMS in Bangla language, following an initiative by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. Mr Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated the service.
