Norway on Tuesday raised concerns and sought ‘quick’ and ‘amicable’ solution to the issue of the GrameenPhone (GP) in which their company Telenor has investments. After the second foreign office consultation, both Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, and Secretary General of Norwegian Foreign Ministry Tore Hattrem told journalists that the issue came up in the meeting.
Tore Hattrem said they raised their ‘concerns’ in the meeting. He said they agreed to follow the court order, but at the same time stressed on an ‘amicable’ solution.
The foreign secretary said they have discussed the issue in details. “We have informed the latest position including the court order.” Norway also wanted the full verdict of the court. On November 24 last year, the Appellate Division asked GP to pay Tk 2,000 crore of the Tk 12,579.95 crore dues claimed by BTRC within three months. Following the deadline, GP paid Tk1000 crore and agreed to pay the rest soon.
BTRC claimed the dues in 27 sectors from the mobile operator but failed to recover the money. Later, BTRC sent a notice to GP threatening to revoke its licence on April 2 last year. But GP moved the court seeking a temporary injunction on the notice which was turned down on August 28 that year. 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. BTRC later moved the Appellate Division against the order.
GP earlier in a statement said: “It’s a disputable audit and GP wants a constructive solution through court or outside the court”. After the political consultation at the state guesthouse Padma, the foreign ministry in a statement said the issue of Telenor/Grameen phone, where Norwegian government has a substantial share, came up for discussion and both sides took note of Bangladesh Supreme Court’s recent ruling/order on this issue.
Both sides look forward to a ‘peaceful’ settlement of the issue. Both sides agreed to celebrate the two milestone events of Bangladesh, namely the 100th Birth Anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh in Oslo early next year.
The Norwegian Secretary General wished success to the celebrations of Mujib Borsho and both sides remembered the sacrifice and leadership of Bangabandhu for the emancipation of mankind and praised his contribution to upholding international peace and security. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together on achieving ocean-related targets including fighting marine litter and to collaborate in maritime sector through sustainable development of ocean resources, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
Bangladesh proposed an MoU on cooperation in the blue economy sector and shared a draft with the Norwegian side in this regard.
Recognising the key role of economic cooperation, trade and investment in strengthening bilateral relations, the two delegations agreed that there was ample room for further increase in bilateral trade and investment. They encouraged enhanced trade flows in both directions.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary appreciated Norwegian government for extending duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products under Norwegian GSP since 1stJuly 2002 and requested to continue the same even after Bangladesh’s graduation out of LDCs group in 2024.
Both sides agreed to work on cooperation in the field of skill development entailing development of human resources, at various levels, with various modalities – as also mutually beneficial and result-oriented, in view of Bangladesh’s graduation, rapid automation, among others, in textile sector and disruptive technologies and trends thanks to Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Rohingya crisis was high on the agenda. Bangladesh side appreciated Norway’s political and financial support to the cause of the Rohingyas.Secretary General Hattrem reiterated Norway’s appreciation for Bangladesh’s continued generosity in hosting the Rohingyas.
Bangladesh requested for continued and intensified support of Norway to ensure safe, dignified and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
Norway reiterated its support for Annan Commission’s recommendations and ICJ’s provisional measures and called for their full implementation by Myanmar. Norway, currently running for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council, vowed to intensify its efforts at the UN to resolve the crisis, if elected.
Both countries affirmed their support for Global Compact on Migration and efforts to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration. They also expressed satisfaction with the smooth implementation of Norway-Bangladesh Standard Operating Procedures for Identification and Return of Persons without an Authorization to Stay which was signed in June 2018.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Norway (with residence in Stockholm) Md. Nazmul Islam, Director General (West Europe and the EU) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andalib Elias and BTRC’s Vice Chairman Subrata Roy Maitra, among others, joined Foreign Secretary Momen on Bangladesh side. Norwegian Ambassador in Bangladesh SidselBleken also participated in the consultations.
The 3rd Bangladesh-Norway Political Consultations will take place in Oslo, Norway at a mutually convenient date. Following the signing of the Protocol on Consultations between the Foreign Offices of the two countries in February 2010, the 1st such Consultations took place in Oslo on June 28 in 2018.