Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered Citycell, the oldest mobile phone operator of the country to pay dues of Tk 477.51 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in installments within next three months.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Citycell.
The court also ruled the mobile phone operator can continue its operation with some conditions by paying two-third of its outstanding payment within one month and the rest of the amount within next two months.
They will have to pay license fees on regular basis from September 17 to the BTRC. In default, the BTRC can take legal steps against them.
Attorney Geneal Mahbubey Alam represented the State while Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud stood for the petitioner. Earlier on August 22, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court stayed the government’s process to stop operation of Citycell till September 16 for its failure to pay an outstanding payment of Tk 477.51 crore to BTRC.
The Citycell moved the SC to review the HC order on August 23.
On August 17, the BTRC sent a notice to the Citycell asking it to explain as to why its license would not be cancelled for not paying the dues. The mobile phone operator was given one month time to respond to the notice.
The BTRC also issued a notification on its subscribers to switch to alternative operator by August 16.
In this circumstance, the HC asked the government to allow the mobile phone operator company to continue its activities until the deadline of responding to the BTRC notice expiry. The SC also upheld the HC order permitting the company to run its services for next one month.
The BTRC formed a committee that will shut down Citycell’s network immediately after getting orders from authorities.
Besides, it has owed annual spectrum fees (from the year 2013 to 2016) Taka 27.14 crore, revenue sharing (2014 to 2016) Taka 27.84 crore, social obligatory fund (2011 to 2016) Taka 8.92 crore, VAT Taka 39.92 crore and late fee of Taka 135 crore.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered Citycell, the oldest mobile phone operator of the country to pay dues of Tk 477.51 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in installments within next three months.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Citycell.
The court also ruled the mobile phone operator can continue its operation with some conditions by paying two-third of its outstanding payment within one month and the rest of the amount within next two months.
They will have to pay license fees on regular basis from September 17 to the BTRC. In default, the BTRC can take legal steps against them.
Attorney Geneal Mahbubey Alam represented the State while Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud stood for the petitioner. Earlier on August 22, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court stayed the government’s process to stop operation of Citycell till September 16 for its failure to pay an outstanding payment of Tk 477.51 crore to BTRC.
The Citycell moved the SC to review the HC order on August 23.
On August 17, the BTRC sent a notice to the Citycell asking it to explain as to why its license would not be cancelled for not paying the dues. The mobile phone operator was given one month time to respond to the notice.
The BTRC also issued a notification on its subscribers to switch to alternative operator by August 16.
In this circumstance, the HC asked the government to allow the mobile phone operator company to continue its activities until the deadline of responding to the BTRC notice expiry. The SC also upheld the HC order permitting the company to run its services for next one month.
The BTRC formed a committee that will shut down Citycell’s network immediately after getting orders from authorities.
Besides, it has owed annual spectrum fees (from the year 2013 to 2016) Taka 27.14 crore, revenue sharing (2014 to 2016) Taka 27.84 crore, social obligatory fund (2011 to 2016) Taka 8.92 crore, VAT Taka 39.92 crore and late fee of Taka 135 crore.
