The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission will soon implement the 'significant market power' regulations on leading mobile operator Grameenphone, said BTRC chairman Md Jahurul Hauqe at an online press briefing this week. The commission organised the briefing after GP handed over pay orders worth Tk 1,000 crore to the BTRC as per court orders.

The BTRC chairman said that a committee was working on the implementation of the significant market power regulations and it would be ready to be implemented in the next 15 days.

GP's main rival in the cut-throat industry Robi recently alleged that the recent promotional packages of GP approved by the BTRC would allow the telecom operator to attain a greater market share in the name of corporate social responsibility.

Bangladesh and India decided to extend some protocol routes, include two new ones, and designate five new Ports of Call to facilitate trade between the two countries. These decisions will come into effect with the signing of the second Addendum to the Protocol, which was completed by Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Bangladesh's shipping secretary Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury.

This protocol, which was first signed in 1972 immediately after the independence of Bangladesh is a "reflection of shared history, trusted friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries", officials said. It was last renewed in 2015. The newly added five ports of call on Indian side are: Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha and on Bangladesh side are: Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad.

Uber, a global ridesharing company, has decided to close down the operations of its food delivery service, Uber Eats, in Bangladesh. An Uber Eats spokesperson in a statement said, 'We have made the decision to discontinue Uber Eats in Bangladesh from June 2, 2020. This continues our strategy of focusing our energy and resources on our top Eats markets around the world.'

Meanwhile the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Sheikh Fazle Fahim on Tuesday said that small entrepreneurs were not getting any support from banks to obtain special loans from the government-announced stimulus package of Tk 20,000 crore. The non-cooperation had been reported to the finance minister and senior government officials, he added.

A 65-day ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal to try and boost depleted fish stocks began from May 20. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has taken all necessary measures to implement the ban till July 23, said a notification of the fisheries department. The ban is timed to occur with the breeding season.

The ministry issued an order in this regard to the Bangladesh Navy Headquarters, Public Security Division, Ministry of Shipping, Armed Forces Division, Police Headquarters, Coast Guard, Rab Headquarters, Department of Fisheries, River police, divisional commissioners of Barishal, Khulna and Chattogram divisions, and 14 deputy commissioners concerned of the coastal belt.