Bangladesh yesterday became the 10th country in the world to offer free internet access to some local and international websites through internet.org, which is a non-profit platform of Facebook and allows free online browsing through mobile gadgets.

The service has been launched for 23 websites initially, in association with the government's ICT division and mobile phone operator Robi.

Only Robi subscribers will enjoy the service. However, users will not be able to open links, and upload or download any image or video free of charge. 

The service has initially been launched for 90 days but it will be extended, Robi officials said.

“This will be a milestone in the way of building a Digital Bangladesh,” said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT division, while inaugurating the service at the Westin hotel in Dhaka.

Markku Makelainento, director of global operator partnerships at internet.org, said, “Other operators can contact us and launch it too.”

Users can access popular sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, ESPN Cricinfo, some local newspapers, and e-commerce and educational sites.

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Robi's chief operating officer, said internet speed will not come down for this free service.

Robi, the third largest operator in terms of active subscribers, hopes that the number of its internet users will increase by around 15 percent because of the service.

As of March, Robi had 1.2 crore internet users out of the 4.43 crore internet users in the country, according to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Internet.org was founded on August 21, 2013, to ensure easy access to internet globally. Internet.org was earlier launched in Colombia, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Zambia, Indonesia, Guatemala and the Philippines.

Robi's Chief Executive Officer Supun Weerasinghe and ICT Division Secretary Ahyam Sundar Sikder also spoke.