“The path of dialogue is open but the mobile phone operators must pay the dues. They can sit with us anytime they want. However, GP wants to linger the matter in the name of arbitration,” he said while talking to UNB. 

About their next course of action against the two mobile phone companies, the BTRC chief said it will be decided after discussions with the government.

He, however, hinted that a number of actions, including cancellation of licences, can be taken to this end.

Jahurul said they have sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry to amend the BTRC Act incorporating the issue of arbitration. “But it’ll take some time,” he said.

On July 4, BTRC decided to reduce 30 percent bandwidth capacity of Grameenphone and 15 percent of Robi as they failed to pay their dues to the government.

GP has Tk 12,579.95 crore due to the government, including Tk 4,085.95 crore to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), while Robi has Tk 867.23 crore to the government, including Tk 197.21 crore to the NBR alone.

Meanwhile, Grameenphone on Sunday protested the BTRC directive.

In a press release, the operator said, “It’s very unfortunate that directives to the IIG operators were given in an attempt by the regulator to pressure GP to pay a disputed audit claim.”

Terming the move illegal, it said it will seek intervention of the court against this ‘unconscionable’ decision of the regulator.

Besides, Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Shahed Alam said, “We believe arbitration is the best solution to resolve the disputed claims that came out of a fundamentally flawed audit process. There’s a specific act for arbitration that can amicably solve the problem.”

He expressed the hope that BTRC will be interested in pursuing the arbitration process to settle the matter once and for all.