BTRC serves show-cause notice to Grameenphone, Robi over dues

gp-robi
gp-robi

Bangladesh Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Thursday issued show-causes notices to Grameenphone and Robi seeking explanation as to why their 2G and 3G licences should not be revoked for failure to pay dues, reports UNB.

The two mobile phone operators have been asked to respond to the notices within 30 days, said BTRC senior assistant director Zakir Hossain Khan.

The telecom regulator will take steps to revoke licences as per the Bangladesh Telecommunications Act 2001 if they fail to come up with satisfactory replies, he said.

Earlier, BTRC stopped issuing fresh no objection certificates (NOCs) to Grameenphone and Robi over the row about dues to the government.

However, it backtracked from the decision later.

Grameenphone has Tk 125.7995 billion in dues to the government, including Tk 40.8595 billion to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), while Robi has Tk 8.6723billion to the government, including Tk 1.9721 billion to the NBR alone, as per a BTRC audit.

Meanwhile, Grameenphone has termed the notice unjustified.

“This notice is unjustified and yet another step by the regulator to refuse our invitation to seek an amicable solution related to a disputed audit claim,” it said in a statement.

The mobile phone company said it will assess the notice before considering its response. “We’ll take necessary measures to protect the rights of the company, our shareholders and customers against unwarranted actions by the regulator.”