Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged Banglalink authorities to take steps to make smartphones more affordable and consider reducing internet prices further so that digital services become accessible to people from all walks of life.

The call came when Augie Fabela, Chairman of VEON, the parent company of Banglalink, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's Office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at around 9:30am.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to make digital services more accessible across the country, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing.

The Prime Minister urged Banglalink to take initiatives to make smartphones available to customers at more affordable prices so that people from all sections of society can own smartphones.

He also called on the company to consider further reducing internet prices to expand access to digital services.

Post, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Post, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, VEON Board Member Michiel Soeting and Banglalink Chief Executive Officer Johan Hendrik Martinus Buse were present at the meeting.