BTRC set to issue NOC to GP 'partly'
FE Report | Wednesday, 1 April 2020
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to start issuing no objection certificate (NOC) 'partly' to the country's largest mobile phone operator Grameenphone (GP).
In a recent commission meeting, the telecom regulator has decided to resume issuing NOC 'partly' after eight months, according to meeting sources.
The sources added that the telecom regulator will give full NOC, when GP will clear all its dues.
The BTRC senior assistant director Zakir Hossain Khan said they have received full court verdict. Now they will decide (regarding next steps) accordingly, which certainly includes resumption of issuing NOC.
However, he did not make it clear whether it will be partial or full resumption of NOC.
Head of External Communication of GP Md Hassan said they want full resumption of NOC.
The operators need to take NOC from the BTRC for various purposes, including importing equipment to expand their services, launching new packages, and taking bank loans etc.
The telecom regulator on July 17 last year decided to refrain from issuing any kind of approval, related to service and maintenance, to GP and Robi to create pressure on the operators to clear their respective dues.
GP deposited Tk 10.00 billion to the BTRC in compliance with the Supreme Court order on February 23.
On November 24 last year, the Appellate Division asked GP to pay Tk 20.00 billion, out of the Tk 125.80 billion dues claimed by the BTRC, within three months. The deadline expired on February 23.
The BTRC claimed the dues in 27 sectors from the mobile operator, but failed to recover the money. Later, the regulator sent a notice to GP on April 2 last year, threatening to revoke its licence.
But GP moved to the court, seeking a temporary injunction on the notice, which was turned down on August 28. The mobile operator later filed an appeal with the High Court.
On October 17, the High Court imposed a two-month injunction on realisation of dues from GP. The BTRC later moved to the Appellate Division against the order.