Statistics showed that over 52,000 applications were submitted within first nine hours after the opening of the web site on May 7 at 11 pm.

"At least 200 people rushed to my café that night hoping to be the first to fill the forms up. We kept the café open till midnight," said Mohammad Akiluzzaman, a partner of Speed Cyber café on the Sonargaon road.

Many people thought that the cell phone company would follow the 'first come first served' rule, that resulted in a huge rush on the first two days," said Shariful Islam, manager, Blue Planet cyber café at Bailey Road who had to deal with large numbers rushing to the café.

Other cyber café owners said they are still accommodating the rush of applicants, although the numbers did not exceed the DV lottery rush.

"We expected the crowds to exceed the DV lottery applications, and although there were big numbers on the first two days, one about a third turn in at present," said Parvez Rahman, of Nice Cyber Zone at Elephant Road.

A single applicant submits a number of applications, hoping that one of them would give them the opportunity of obtaining a single SIM card.

Kamrul Islam (not his real name) said he submitted three applications in his name.

"The name of the applicant, father and mother's name are the same but the address and other information are different, BTTB being a government organization will not look into these details I am sure," Islam said. "More applications more chances," he added.

Some apply for other family members and friends. As a result the rush of the people to the cafés is not noticeable said one the café owners.

"According to the system any individual can apply for another, so a browser can fill in as many forms as he/she wishes, but we do not get any extra benefit," said Jahangir Khan, manager, Blue Planet cyber café at Dhanmomdi. "We just charge the normal browser rates," he said adding that this system has increased the number of internet users.

"The charges do not matter, we are content that our computers are being used," said Akiluzzaman, of Speed Cyber café.

The café owners, however, take an extra charge for filling up forms, if necessary, and getting prints of the application with the registration and tracking numbers.

The rate for these services was between Tk. 20 to 25 including the print out.

To enhance the business many cafés put up banners to attract interested parties. 'You got mail', a cyber café in Kakrail, put up banners, hoping that business would rise before the penultimate day.

"From my experience I can tell there will be a big rush just before the deadline," said Ashrafuzzaman of Cyber land on the Sonargaon Road.