The New Nation - Internet Edition

TM International (BD) Ltd. ("AKTEL"), one of the country's leading mobile telecommunications service providers hosted a reception to welcome its new shareholder, NTT DoCoMo Inc, one of the world's leading telecommunications company, and the largest mobile telecommunications company in Japan.

AKTEL started its journey in 1997, as a joint venture between Telekom Malaysia Bhd and AK Khan & Company Ltd. The AK Khan Group recently completed the sale of its entire shareholding of 30% in AKTEL to NTT DoCoMo.

Iqbal Mahmud, Secretary of Ministry of Post & Telecommunication of People's Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Dato' Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz, High Commissioner of Malaysia, H.E. Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of Japan, Masatoshi Suzuki, Senior Executive Vice President, Member of Board of Directors and Managing Director of Global Business Division of NTT Docomo, Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Managing Director of AK Khan & Co. Ltd, President, Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry and former Chairman of AKTEL and Bidyut Kumar Basu, Chief Commercial Officer of AKTEL, were present at this auspicious occasion. Chief commercial officer, Bidyut Kumar Basu, on behalf of AKTEL management, officially welcomed Docomo, who brings a new perspective to AKTEL to achieve market leadership.

AKTEL and the Bangladesh mobile industry will benefit greatly from the wealth of experience, knowledge and synergies brought by such major telco players as TMI and Docomo.

In his key speech Masatoshi Suzuki from NTT Docomo said that Bangladesh has a tremendous growth potential & also has a prospect of sustain economic and social development in future.

Forging a partnership with TMI group is an important step for NTT Docomo's international strength. Addressing the audience Mr. Iqbal Mahmud, Secretary of Ministry & Post Telecommunication of Bangladesh praised this historic moment and extended all necessary support to ensure successful growth of Bangladesh telecommunication sector.

"The alliance between TMI & NTT Docomo will greatly benefit people of Bangladesh in terms of employment opportunity and access to cutting edge technology" he added.

AKTEL also expressed its sincere thanks and gratitude to the AK Khan Group for their long standing contributions and support as shareholders.

NTT DOCOMO is the world's leading mobile communications company and the largest mobile communications company in Japan. DOCOMO serves over 53 million customers, including 44 million people subscribing to FOMA, launched as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA in 2001. DOCOMO also offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode, the world's most popular mobile e-mail/Internet service, used by 48 million people. With the addition of credit card and other e-wallet functions, DOCOMO mobile phones have become highly versatile tools for daily life. With cutting edge technology and innovative services, Docomo is fast becoming a preferred lifestyle choice, continuously expanding its role in its users' lives, growing globally throughout Asia, Europe and North America. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.

TMI is an emerging leader in Asian telecommunications with significant presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia. In addition, the Malaysian grown holding company has strategic mobile and non-mobile telecommunications operations and investments in India, Singapore, Iran, Pakistan and Thailand. The TMI Group, including its subsidiaries and associates, has approximately 50 million mobile subscribers in Asia, and is listed on Malaysia's stock exchange (Bursa Malaysia).

Malaysia and Japan have long been present in Bangladesh enterprise. This new partnership in mobile communications adds a new dimension of cooperation and business here, which will undoubtedly bring with it further investment and growth in Bangladesh telecommunications and other related sectors.