The country’s leading mobile network operator Grameenphone on Sunday (Feb 23) paid Tk. 1,000 crore to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as part of outstanding due of Tk. 12,580 crore unearthed by audit. The operator made the payment as directed by the Appellate Division on Feb 20 to escape any regulatory measures of BTRC after Feb 24.
A four-member team, led by Grameenphone’s Head of Regulatory Affairs Hossain Sadat, submitted the pay orders to BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque in the afternoon at BTRC office, local media reported.
The Appellate Division’s order came in response to a review petition filed by Grameenphone earlier on Jan 26 to allow it to pay Tk. 575 crore in twelve equal installments.
The review petition was filed after the apex court had directed Grameenphone on Nov 24 to pay Tk. 2,000 crore to BTRC within three months (by Feb 23) against the demand of Taka 12,579.96 crore dug out by audit.
Grameenphone and Robi, the second largest mobile network operator, were engaged in a virtual scuffle with BTRC over financial and technical audit to the operators’ book since their inception up to 2015.
Earlier, in another order, the Appellate Division asked Robi Axiata Limited to pay in equal five installments in five months Tk. 138 crore out of BTRC’s demand amounting to Tk. 867.23 crore.
Robi complied with the order paying on Jan 14 the first installment, 17 days ahead of the expiry of the deadline.
