Dhaka, Sept 19 – Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has finalised the guidelines on limiting radiation from base transceiver stations of mobile phone operators.BTRC following an instruction from the High Court in March, 2017 initiated a move to frame a set of guidelines in this regard with a view to checking radiation of the mobile phone towers.
“Following the court’s directive, the guideline has been prepared giving public health protection on priority, said BTRC chairman Jahurul Haque.
“We want the highest safety of people. It is important to improve communication system as well as protect the human health. We are working with that aspect in consideration.” he also said.
Draft guidelines titled ‘Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Radiation of Electromagnetic Fields’ was published by the telecom regulator in February 8 last year seeking public opinion eleven months after the HC instruction.
Haque said, “We have already measured the radiation level of the tower in several areas. We didn’t find anything harmful there. Yet it has the urge to have a permanent measurement process. We’re working on that”.
The High Court on April 25, 2019 directed the telecom regulator to run a massive study within the next four months to measure the impact of radiation from telecom towers on citizens’ health and environment.
In a final verdict on a seven-year-old writ petition, the HC bench, comprising Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir, came up with the directive.
The bench directed the authorities concerned not to install any mobile phone tower on rooftops of residences, schools, colleges, playing fields, populated areas and heritage areas. Those installed earlier in such areas should be removed.
The HC bench also directed the authorities concerned to take steps to reduce the radiation of mobile phone towers by 1 per cent out of 10 per cent.
It also directed the authorities concerned to take steps so that mobile operators do not cross the specific radiation limit.
The bench directed the BTRC to form a monitoring cell on public health risk caused by radiation from mobile phone towers.
It also asked the authorities concerned to replace all mobile phone towers with high radiation.
When asked regarding the HC directive to form monitoring cell, BTRC chairman said, “We’ve already started working in this regard.”
The HC bench also directed the BTRC to make the verification mandatory for installing mobile phone towers.
In 2012, the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh had filed a petition before the HC in 2012 over the radiation level of towers. – Staff Reporter
