Supreme Court orders GP to pay Tk2,000 crore dues to BTRC
BTRC can take any action if Grameenphone fails to pay within given time, court says
The Appellate Division today ordered mobile phone operator Grameenphone to pay Tk2,000 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) out of its disputed claim of Tk12,580 crore dues within the next three months.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said BTRC can take any action if Grameenphone fails to pay within the time.
"The court also said the two-month injunction on realisation of the total dues imposed by the High Court would be vacated if Grameenphone fails to pay the amount within the given time," said BTRC lawyer Khandaker Reza-E-Rakib.
Grameenphone lawyer Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh said, "We placed a proposal to pay the BTRC Tk200 crore. The court issued the order to pay Tk2,000 crore after the hearing."
Another Grameenphone lawyer Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury said, "After getting the order copy, we will discuss with our client to decide on filing review petition."
Earlier, On April 2, 2019, the telecom regulator demanded Tk12,580 crore from Grameenphone over irregularities, prompting the company to take the matter to court.
The telecom operator filed a case with the lower court, seeking a temporary injunction on realising the money. But the court on August 28 scrapped the plea of GP, making it to file the appeal with the High Court.
On October 17, the High Court bench of Justice AKM Abdul Hakim and Justice Fatima Nazib issued a two-month injunction against the BTRC's move.
Later, the BTRC appealed to the Appellate Division seeking a stay order.
On November 18, the Appellate Division set November 24 to pass order on the petition.