bdnews24.com :
The UK government has confirmed it is involved in a political and legal wrangle between a London firm and Bangladesh’s state-owned telecommunications company over an unlawful disconnection ordered by a minister.
Zamir Telecom, which is based in Canary Wharf, was cut off from the south Asian state’s network by the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) in March 2014, causing it significant financial harm.
The move followed an instruction of Abdul Latif Siddique, Bangladesh’s telecoms minister, who has since admitted that the disconnection he ordered was illegal.
“UK Trade & Investment is aware of the difficulties being experienced by Zamir Telecom in their business dealings with BTCL,” said a spokeswoman for the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to International Business Times, UK.
“We understand that the dispute is subject to ongoing legal proceedings in Bangladesh, it would therefore be inappropriate to comment in detail on this case.
“However, officials from UKTI are in touch with the company. Given the crucial importance of transparency in effective decision making, UKTI and the British High Commission in Dhaka have also raised the issue with the government of Bangladesh,” the spokeswoman added.
“The bilateral commercial relationship between our two countries is strong and trade thrives when a stable, transparent business environment gives companies the confidence to plan for long-term trade and investment,” she added.
The disconnection is unlawful because it breaches a 2010 court order overturning a similar disconnection of Zamir Telecom.
After the firm’s lawyers pursued the latest disconnection through the courts, judges ordered the immediate reconnection – another order that has been ignored.
The disconnection is purportedly over an invoicing dispute between BTCL and Zamir Telecom.
But judges said the dispute, which is in an arbitration process, does not make cutting Zamir Telecom off from the network lawful.
