SC asks GP to pay Tk 1,000cr to BTRC by Monday

The Supreme Court today directed Grameenphone to pay Tk 1,000 crore to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) by Monday.

The apex court passed the order while hearing a review petition filed by GP.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has decided to pass further order on the matter on Monday.

During today's hearing, Advocate AM Aminuddin, speaking for GP, requested the Supreme Court to grant six months' time to pay up the Tk 500 crore, out of the court's earlier order to pay Tk 2,000 crore.

But the apex court rejected it and directed GP to pay Tk 1,000 crore by Monday.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Murad Raza appeared for the state while Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raqib, represented BTRC and Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury stood for GP.

On January 26, GP filed the review petition with the Appellate Division asking permission to pay Tk 575 crore to BTRC as an adjustable amount.

The petition was filed against a previous SC order issued on November 24 that asked the operator to pay Tk 2,000 crore to the regulator by February 23.

 

NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO PAY TK 1,000CR: BTRC

The Grameenphone has no option but to pay Tk 1,000 crore to the telecom regulator, said the chairman of BTRC today after the Supreme Court directed the carrier to pay the amount by Monday.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Md Jahirul Haque made the remark at his office following the apex court's order.

"It is my personal opinion that this time Grameenphone will pay the public money," said Haque.

Haque said after receiving the Tk 1,000 crore, the telecom regulator will decide whether the bar imposed on Grameenphone will be lifted or not.

"We do not intend to embezzle from Grameenphone. Rather, we want to collect public money. The administrative panel's main responsibility will be to realise the amount," said Haque.