High Court asks Robi to pay BTRC Tk138cr in 5 months

The High Court has asked mobile operator Robi to pay Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Tk138 crore out of its Tk867.23 crore dues.

The bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khijir Hayat on Sunday asked Robi to pay the money in instalments within next five months.

Advocate Prabir Neogi, Barrister Tanjib-ul-Alam and Barrister Kazi Ershadul Alam appeared for Robi, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, and Barrister Khandakar Reza-e-Rakib represented the telecom regulator.

Khandakar Reza-e-Rakib told the media the High Court passed the order in line with the Supreme Court directives that have asked Grameenphone to pay Tk2,000 crore out of Tk12,580 crore.

Referring to the court order, he said if Robi violates the order of the High Court, then the telecom regulator can appoint administrator or can take any action according to the law.

Earlier on July 31 last year, the BTRC hit Robi Axiata Ltd with an audit claim of Tk867.23 crores.

Robi then filed a case with a lower court on August 25, seeking its directive on the BTRC refraining from collecting dues from the mobile operator and halt any harassment until the issue is resolved.

But the lower court rejected the application, following which Robi filed the appeal with the High Court, which was accepted for a hearing on October 20.

The High Court initially fixed November 3 for hearing the appeal, but it was later shifted to November 14, November 25, December 1, and December 8.