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AUDIT CLAIMS OF TK 12,580CR

GP gets time to inform SC how much it can pay now

Star Business Report
The Supreme Court yesterday gave two more weeks to Grameenphone to inform it how much money the operator can pay to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) now out of Tk 12,580 crore claimed by the regulator.
The development came after lawyers of the country's largest mobile phone operator sought two months from the apex court to comply with the order following consultation with its investors. The next hearing will take place on November 14.
In their prayer, the lawyers informed the SC that it has already paid more than Tk 2,000 crore to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the areas a BTRC audit is claiming money from the operator. Talks are also going on with the government to settle the matter out of court.
Of the BTRC's total claim, Tk 4,086 crore is related with the NBR.
Advocate AM Aminuddin and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, who represented the operator, said GP did not say that it would not give the money.
At a meeting presided over by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on October 3, it was decided that GP would deposit Tk 100 crore so that the BTRC withdraws its licence cancelation showcase notice and moves for reviewing the audit report.
However, on Wednesday, the minister accused GP and Robi of not cooperating with the authorities to bring an end to the dispute with the BTRC through talks.
“As a result, it will be settled in courts," he said, after a meeting of the cabinet committee on purchase at the secretariat.
Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar also made a similar remark last week. The government had drafted a memorandum of understanding to sign with GP and Robi, but the process stalled after the court asked GP to inform it about the sum it is capable of providing at the moment.
The BTRC claimed Tk 867 crore from Robi after running two separate audits on the operator's books. A separate hearing on a Robi petition is scheduled for November 3. On October 17, an HC bench issued a twomonth injunction on the BTRC's move to realise money from GP. The BTRC appealed against the injunction. The Appellate Division is hearing it.
The HC order dealt a blow to the telecom regulator, which was all set to appoint administrators at GP and Robi to realise the dues.
GP lawyer Sharif Bhuiyan told The Daily Star yesterday that the government is trying to realise the amount by exercising regulatory power which goes against the laws. In April, the commission sent a letter to GP demanding Tk 12,579 crore in "tax, revenue share, and late fees".
Bhuiyan said 27 items in the letter were illogical and they raised the points in the court yesterday.
In a statement, GP said as the Appellate Division adjourned the hearing until 14
November, the stay order passed by the HC is still in effect.
"We are concerned about the BTRC's lack of cooperation in complying with the current stay order and we now urge the BTRC to act in good faith and adhere to the said order."
The operator said it expects the telecom regulator to take necessary actions to process and allow the release of equipment from customs, import of equipment for network expansion, and offer products and services to customers.
"We reaffirm our commitment to reaching a transparent and amicable resolution to the disputed BTRC audit claim through a constructive dialogue.”
Since July, the telecom regulator has refrained from issuing any kind of approval related to service and maintenance to GP and Robi in order to create pressure on the operators to clear the dues.