Robi deposits second instalment to BTRC

Robi, the country's second largest mobile network operator, has deposited its second instalment of Tk27.60 crore to the telecom regulator as per the High Court order.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Md Jahurul Haque told The Business Standard on Wednesday that the payment was made last week.

On January 14, Robi paid the BTRC the same amount as the first instalment. February 29 was the deadline for the second one.

After depositing the first instalment, Robi officials said the company was getting all the services they deserved from the BTRC.

Robi is expected to pay three more instalments, each Tk27.60 crore.

In January, the High Court ordered Robi to pay the BTRC Tk138 crore out of its total dues of Tk867.23 crore in instalments within five months.

On July 31 last year, the BTRC slapped Robi and the country's biggest mobile phone operator, Grameenphone, with disputed audit claims of Tk867.23 crore and Tk12,580 crore respectively.

The regulator also stopped issuing the two companies no-objection certificates for importing network equipment and devices when they denied paying the money.

Robi then filed a case with the lower court on August 25 last year, seeking its directive on the BTRC to refrain from collecting the dues and stop any kind of harassment until the issue was resolved.

But the lower court rejected the petition, following which Robi filed an appeal with the High Court. 

The High Court said it would hear the appeal on October 20 but the date was deferred until November 3.

The hearing was again deferred until December 8.

Grameenphone on February 23 this year deposited Tk1,000 crore to the BTRC. The next day, the Appellate Division ordered the company to deposit Tk1,000 crore more within three months.