Robi-Airtel merger may take more time

The landmark merger of Robi and Airtel is going to face a further delay as the government is yet to finalise its recommendations and will seek more time from the High Court today.

According to a High Court order, today is the last day for the government to submit its recommendation to the court.

The Telecom Division sent its recommendation on the merger to the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday and it is now pending with the PMO.

The Telecom Division yesterday sent a letter to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and directed it to apply for more time from the High Court.

The BTRC will submit its own report today and will seek more time for the government's report, said Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib, a lawyer for BTRC.

The court will go on vacation later this week, which means the merger is likely to be delayed.

The parent companies of Robi and Airtel opened talks on a possible merger at the end of August last year and formally applied to the BTRC later. In February this year, a deal was signed on the merger.

In the merged entity, Axiata, the parent company of Robi, will hold a 68.7 percent controlling stake, Bharti Airtel will have 25 percent and NTT Docomo of Japan 6.3 percent.