HC upholds BTRC's decision of seeking Tk 30cr from ETV

The High Court yesterday upheld a Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) decision to seek Tk 30.09 crore from Ekushey Television (ETV) for using its broadcasting frequency.  

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman rejected a writ petition filed by ETV, challenging the BTRC's decision in 2007.

Now ETV has to pay the amount, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told The Daily Star.

BTRC's lawyer Khandaker Reza-e-Raquib told this correspondent that his client had sent a letter to ETV in March 2007 asking to pay for using the frequency till that day, who then filed a writ petition, challenging the letter.

That same year, the HC stayed the BTRC's decision and issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain as to why it should not be declared illegal, he added. The HC yesterday lifted its stay order.

Yesterday, the same bench rejected another writ petition filed by ETV, challenging a BTRC's action of suspending ETV's terrestrial frequency for failing to pay the rent arrears of the frequency.