Mobile operators must pay their dues: BTRC

Four private telecom operators — Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel — owe an amount of Tk 2,413 crore to the government which remains due as VAT on 2G spectrum and licence fees, said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

"The government’s money means public money, so operators must have to pay the money," BTRC Vice-Chairman Md Mohiuddin Ahmed said while addressing a press conference at the commission's office in Dhaka on Sunday.

BTRC is determined to take out the money, he added.

"All the laws and policies of the BTRC have been formulated for the welfare of the people. We want to make the telecommunication sector an up-to-date sector in the country," he added.

Mentioning the recent apex court order to three major telecom operators on the payable amount, he said, "The BTRC is working relentlessly to build smart Bangladesh." 

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Commissioner of Spectrum Department Prof Sheikh Riaz Ahmed said the dues of nearly Tk 2,500 crore are the government’s revenue and public money. Telecom operators must pay this money, he said.

BTRC Director General (Legal and Licensing Division) Ashis Kumar Kundu said as of November 22 last year, Grameenphone owes Tk 1,163.85 crore, Banglalink Tk 625.27 crore, Robi Tk 565.58 crore, and Airtel Tk 59.05 crore.

The BTRC will get 100 per cent of revenue from the operators and the 15 per cent VAT cannot be added, he said.

The commission will definitely get its dues from the operators because it did not demand the money illegally, said BTRC's lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib.

Among others, BTRC Director General (Systems and Services Division) Brig Gen Md Nasim Parvez spoke at the press conference, moderated by Director (Legal) Tareq Hassan Siddiqui.