HC questions BTRC order on Citycell users’ switch over

The High Court on Thursday asked the telecom regulator to explain why its notice asking the subscribers of the mobile phone operator Citycell to switch to other operators would not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Md Ataur Rahman Khan also stayed the operation of the BTRC’s notification asking Citycell subscribers to find alternative service providers by August 16.
The regulator might suspend operation of Citycell for non-payment of Tk 477.51 crore dues.
On July 31, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in a public notice asked Citycell subscriber to switch over to other mobile operators.
Later on August 17, the BTRC issued another notice extending the customers’ switchover deadline to August 23.
Citycell in a writ petition to the court said that as the operator was still in business, the regulator cannot issue such orders that affect the business of the company.
Lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud represented Citycell and Khondker Reza E Rakib and Syed Mahsib Hossain appeared for BTRC.
Last week, the Appellate Division directed the mobile phone operator Citycell to pay Tk 477.51 crore in dues to telecom regulator in three months in two instalments, the first within four weeks.
Citycell needs to pay within four weeks two-third of the total dues in the first instalment while the remaining dues will have to be paid within two months after the payment of the first instalment.
The Appellate Division also directed the Citycell to pay regular fees to operate their business.
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed the order disposing of the petition filed by BTRC seeking stay on the High Court’s order that allowed Citycell’s business operation until September 16, the deadline for the company to respond to a licence cancellation notice from BTRC.
The total dues of Citycell to BTRC is Tk 477.51 crore and the regulator was set to suspend the operation of the company after August 23.
If the company failed to pay the amount within stipulated time, BTRC can take any legal action, the attorney general said.
Given that the Citycell has Tk 477.51 crore in dues, the company has to pay at least Tk 318 crore in first instalment and Tk 159 crore in the second instalment, said BTRC officials.
The HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on August 22 asked the BTRC not to hinder Citycell’s operation until September 16, the deadline for the company to respond to a licence cancellation notice from BTRC.
The High Court directive came following a winding up petition filed by the China Development Bank with the company court in July 2015 against Citycell for realising Tk 293 crore dues from it.
On August 17, the BTRC issued a notice to Citycell asking it to explain by 30 days why its operating licence would not be cancelled for failure to pay Tk 477.68 crore dues.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net