HC stays BTRC notice to GP

The High Court yesterday stayed the effectiveness of a regulatory notice asking Grameenphone (GP) to pay additional Tk 236.8 crore for the radio frequency in 1800 megahertz band, which the operator already purchased for 18 years in 2008.
In response to a writ petition filed by GP, the court issued a rule upon Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to explain why the notice should not be declared illegal.
BTRC on October 17 issued the notice asking GP to pay 3624.03 crore as its licence renewal and spectrum assignment fees within 10 days, said Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, a counsel of GP.
He said BTRC in the notice demanded additional Tk 236.8 crore as spectrum assignment fee, and that was challenged in the writ petition submitted on October 23.
On a separate issue, the BTRC had also asked GP not to deduct 15% VAT on its receivables. In this regard, the court directed BTRC, the telecom ministry and other authorities concerned to follow statutory regulatory order (SRO) issued by the National Board of Revenue on June 30, 2010, which gives orders to deduct VAT at source.
None of the lawyers for GP and BTRC could specify instantly the time limit of the stay order.
Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh appeared for the petitioner, while barrister Khandaker Reza-e Raquib stood for BTRC.