Equipment received through legal process: GP replies to BTRC show cause notice

Grameenphone has replied to a show cause notice issued by the telecom regulator, saying the company had followed all the prescribed procedures to get its imported equipment released from the customs.

The country's largest telecom operator has also asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to withdraw the show cause notice, which was served on January 1 asking the operator to explain in seven days how they got the telecommunications equipment released from the customs without a BTRC go-ahead.

According to BTRC officials, Grameenphone imported equipment in five lots between May and June last year. 

The BTRC said Grameenphone took the delivery of the equipment although the telecom regulator had not issued any no objection certificate (NOC) to the operator for such import since July 22 last year. 

In its explanation, Grameenphone said it approached the Bangladesh Customs based on orders provided by the High Court and the Appellate divisions of the Supreme Court, which have restrained the BTRC from taking any action against GP over the disputed audit claim.         

Accordingly, the Bangladesh Customs released the equipment based on the previously issued NOCs.

Grameenphone claimed that the subsequent release of the equipment was fully covered by a stay order passed by the High Court on October 17, 2019. 

The telecom operator went on to say the show cause notice disregards orders of the highest court of the country.

It claimed that despite the High Court's stay order, the BTRC has not issued any NOCs to Grameenphone needed for customs clearance since May 27, 2019. 

BTRC Chairman Md Jahurul Haque told The Business Standard that there would be no issues if Grameenphone had imported the equipment maintaining the prescribed procedures. 

"They [Grameenphone] are not our opponent. If they reply to our show cause notice, we will check whether they had brought the equipment following the relevant law," he said.

However, BTRC's lawyer said Grameenphone has been misusing the court order to receive the delivery of the imported equipment.