DHAKA, Feb 23, 2020 (BSS) – Country’s leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone today paid Taka 1,000 crore to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as part of outstanding due of Taka 12,580 crore unearthed by audit.
The operator made the payment as directed by the Appellate Division on February 20 to escape any regulatory measures of BTRC after February 24.
A four-member team, led by Grameenphone’s Head of Regulatory Affairs Hossain Sadat, submitted the pay orders to BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque around 3:30pm at BTRC office, Senior Assistant Director Zakir Hossain Khan told BSS today.
The Appellate Division’s order came in response to a review petition filed by Grameenphone earlier on January 26 to allow it to pay Taka 575 crore in twelve equal installments.
The review petition was filed after the apex court had directed Grameenphone on November 24 last year to pay Taka 2,000 crore to BTRC within three months (by February 23) against the demand of Taka 12,579.96 crore dug out by audit.
Grameenphone and Robi, the second largest mobile phone 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 Taka 138 crore out of BTRC’s demand amounting to Taka 867.23 crore.
Robi complied with the order paying on January 14 the first installment, 17 days ahead of the expiry of the deadline.