Hearing on BTRC plea Oct 24

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday fixed October 24 for hearing on a petition filed by Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), seeking a stay on the High Court order.
On October 17, the High Court issued an ad-interim injunction for two months against realisation of Tk 125.79 billion from Grameenphone by BTRC.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Nuruzzaman fixed the date after hearing the petition filed by BTRC.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib appeared in the court on behalf of BTRC while Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, Advocate AM Aminuddin and Dr Sharif Bhuiyan stood for Grameenphone.
The High Court bench of Justice AKM Abdul Hakim and Justice Fatema Najib passed the order after admitting an appeal filed by GP, challenging a lower court order that rejected its application seeking a directive on BTRC, asking not to realise the demand and not to harass GP.
The court also fixed November 05 for hearing the appeal filed by GP.
Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon who appeared in the court for GP said the court also issued a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why they should not be restrained from realising the demand money from GP until disposal of the civil suit in the trial court.
BTRC, audit firm concerned and National Board of Revenue have to comply with the rule within two weeks.
Barrister Tanim Hussain said BTRC on April 02 this year demanded Tk 125.79 billion from GP in 27 items illogically.
Then GP filed an application with a Dhaka court, seeking directive so that BTRC doesn't realise the money from it and doesn't harass the mobile operator until the case is disposed of.
He said BTRC's demand was illogical as there are several cases pending with different courts including the High Court over the demand.
Barrister Tanim Hussain also said a Dhaka court rejected the GP application on August 28. Later, GP filed an appeal with the HC, challenging the Dhaka court's rejection order. After admitting the appeal, the HC issued an injunction order on Thursday.