Page 9 of 82 AUTHENTIC ENGLISH TEXT OF T HE BANGLADESH T ELECOMMUNICATION ACT , 2001 [ The Act (in Bangla) was assented to by the President on 16 April, 2001 (3 Baishakh, 1408) and published by the Bangladesh Parliament in the Bangladesh Gazette, Extra-ordinary issue of 16 April, 2001. ] Act No. 18 of 2001 CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY MATTERS An Act to provide for the establishment of an independent Commission for the purpose of development and efficient regulation of telecommunication system and telecommunication services in Bangladesh and matters ancillary thereto ; Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of an independent Commission for the purpose of development and efficient regulation of telecommunication system and telecommunication services in Bangladesh and for the transfer of the powers and functions of the Ministry of Post and telecommunication to the Commission and matters ancillary thereto; Now, therefore, it is hereby enacted as follows:1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be cited as the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify. **2. Definitions.- In this Act, except where the subject or context otherwise requires“broadcasting” means transmission of any message, information, signal, sound, image or intellectual expression by radio wave, satellite, cable or optical fibre connection for the purpose of receipt by the public, but transmission of anything by Internet connection shall not be deemed to be a broadcasting {ref. clause (30)}; [**N.B.- The definitions are arranged in English alphabetical order and the reference to the relevant clause of this section is mentioned at the end of each definition within brackets.] “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Commission {ref. clause (9)}; BTRC-TelecomLaw2001.doc -9-