The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday asked mobile phone operator Grameenphone to pay within three months Tk 2,000 crore of the Tk 12,579.95 crore dues as claimed by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
The seven-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the telecom regulator against a High Court order.
It also said the two-month injunction on realisation of the dues slapped by the HC would be vacated if Grameenphone fails to pay the amount.
On November 14, Grameenphone has agreed to deposit Tk 200 crore with BTRC against its claim of Tk 12,580 crore.
The telecom operator claims that two top mobile carriers including Grameenphone owe the state Tk 13,447 crore in revenue share, taxes, and late fees until 2014, but the carriers said the amount was disputed.
On October 24, the apex court wanted to know from GP how much of the amount claimed by BTRC it can repay and asked it to come up with the reply within a week.
On October 17, the High Court imposed a two-month injunction on realisation of Tk 12,579.95 crore dues from the mobile phone company.
Later, the BTRC moved the Appellate Division against the HC order.
The BTRC claims dues of Tk 12,579.95 crore in 27 sectors from GP. Having failed to recover the money, BTRC on April 2 sent a notice to GP threatening to revoke its licence.
Later, GP moved a lower court seeking a temporary injunction on the BTRC’s notice which was turned down on August 28. Later, it filed an appeal with the High Court.