SC asks Grameenphone to pay Tk 20b to BTRC in three months

The Supreme Court on Sunday asked mobile phone operator Grameenphone to pay within three months Tk 20 billion of the dues of over Tk 125.79 billion to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The seven-member Appellate Division bench, led by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the telecom regulator against a High Court order, reports news agency UNB.

It also said the two-month injunction on realisation of the dues slapped by the HC will be vacated if Grameenphone fails to pay the amount.

On 24 October, the apex court wanted to know from the telecom operator how much of the amount claimed by BTRC it can pay and asked it to come up with the reply within a week.

On 14 November, the mobile phone company told the court that it could pay Tk 2 billion of over Tk 125.79 billion dues.

On 17 October, the High Court imposed a two-month injunction on realisation of Tk 12,579.95 crore dues from the mobile phone company.

Later, the BTRC moved to the Appellate Division against the HC order.

The BTRC claims dues of Tk 12,579.95 crore in 27 sectors from GP. Having failed to recover the money, BTRC on 2 April sent a notice to GP threatening to revoke its licence.

Later, GP moved to a lower court seeking a temporary injunction on the BTRC’s notice which was turned down on 28 August. Later, it filed an appeal with the High Court.