Telecom towers must be declared critical national infrastructure: BMPCA

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association (BMPCA) on Tuesday called for sweeping reforms to the country's mobile tower infrastructure, warning that the recurring collapse of towers during even minor natural disasters reflects deep-seated failures in policy, construction standards and regulatory oversight failures that collectively imperil emergency services, economic activity and public safety.In a press statement, BMPCA President Mohiuddin Ahmed said telecommunications towers must be legally designated as critical national infrastructure rather than treated purely as commercial assets, urging the government and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to enforce mandatory structural safety audits and overhaul the regulatory framework governing tower companies. "The breakdown of communications networks means emergency services, the economy and public safety all come under threat simultaneously."The association outlined a seven-point reform agenda. On structural resilience, it demanded that all tower designs comply with international standards for wind load and seismic tolerance, with urgent audits and reconstruction of ageing ...

• 28 Apr 2026