Staff Reporter: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Grameenphone to pay Tk 1,000 crore to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) by Monday.
During hearing of a review petition of GP, the apex court passed the order.
An Appellate Division bench comprising with seven members, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said that it will pass further order on the issue on Monday.
GP’s lawyer Advocate AM Aminuddin requested the Supreme Court during the hearing, to grant six months’ time to pay up the Tk 500 crore, out of the court’s earlier order to pay Tk 2,000 crore.
In one stage, the court questioned the GP that if it completed any portion of the court order? Advocate AM Aminuddin replied that they offered BTRC Tk 500 crore, but they rejected.
Court said, “We ordered you to pay Tk 2000 crore, but you offered only 500 crore. If you have contempt the court?”
Replying the query, the GP lawyer urged the court to grant their appeal to pay the payments by installments.
But the apex court rejected it and directed GP to pay Tk 1,000 crore by Monday.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Murad Raza appeared for the state while Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raqib, represented BTRC and Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented Grameen Phone.
On January 26, GP filed the review petition with the Appellate Division against a previous SC order issued on November 24 the court ordered GP to pay Tk 2,000 crore to the regulator by February 23.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said no any portion of payment have been realized so far. If an administrative would appoint in GP, the payment will be realized within six months.
