The government will offload 10 to 20 per cent share of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd. (BTCL) in the stock market.

Minister for Post and Telecommunications Raziuddin Ahmed Raju said this at a meeting with the authorities of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) at his office here on May 21.

The minister said the offloading of the BTCL share would expand the capital market ensuring more participation of people and non- resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) with the state-owned company.

Without giving any particular time frame for releasing the BTCL share, the minister said, "It will take place very soon."

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post and Telecommunication Ministry Hasanul Haque Inu, secretary of the ministry Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Brig Gen (Retd) Zia Ahmed Managing Director of the BTRC SM Khabiruzzaman, Managing Director of Teletalk M Mujibur Rahman, president of DSE M Raqibur Rahman and senior officials were present.

The telecommunication minister said, 'One Country- One Rate' would be introduced very shortly in the telephone sector and call charge would be reduced to 30 paisa per minute.

Highlighting the present government's firm commitment to make the stock market vibrant, the minister said a strong capital market could create more jobs. The stock market should be guided with the principle to accumulate public money for development of the country, he said.

Terming the capital market as a thrust sector for Bangladesh, the minister urged the stock market authorities to take more active measures to encourage the NRBs to enhance their participation.