BTRC considers to block GP’s call to realise audit claim

The telecom regulator today said they will be tough on Grameenphone if they fail to pay the claimed value of Tk 12,579.95 crore and may consider to block calls volume of the market leader.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Md Jahurul Haque said they have different options to realise the claimed amount and first step could be to stop issuing no-objection certificates (NOC) which operators required for different issues.

Secondly, BTRC has the authority to block calls partially to realise the dues, which they often do for other operators. And lastly, they can take action on licencing issues and can issue show cause notice asking why the licence will not be cancelled.

The BTRC boss shared their plans in a meeting with the Telecom Reporters' Network, Bangladesh (TRNB), an association of the journalists who are covering the telecom industry, at his office.

Earlier, the market leader operator demanded the telecom watchdog withdraws the claims of Tk 12,579.95 crore as they are "unfounded and without any legal basis".

"GP has the scope to go to the court, but at the same time we are doing our duties," said Haque.