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The High Court on Sunday ordered the Robi Axiata Limited to pay Tk 1.38 billion to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) from its audit claim of Tk 8.67 billion from the telecom operator in five equal installments in five months.
The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing on a petition filed by Robi Axiata against an order of a trial court.
Advocate Prabir Neogi, Barrister Tanjibul Alam and Barrister Kazi Ershadul Alam appeared for Robi while Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raquib moved for BTRC.
Barrister Kazi Ershadul Alam said, “The High Court has issued an injunction upon the BTRC initiatives to realize the money of its audit claim of Tk 8.67 billion from Robi subject to payment of Tk 1.38 billion to BTRC in five equal installments in five months. The court also orders the Robi to pay the first installment within January 30, 2020. It also ordered the BTRC to give NOC to Robi immediately for buying its equipments.”
The lawyer also said that if Robi fails to pay the installments, the High Court order would be vacated automatically.
The BTRC on July 31, 2018, issued a notice asking Robi Axiata to pay Tk 8.67 billion as dues. In the same letter the BTRC claimed Tk 125.79 billion from Grameenphone.
Then Robi filed an application to a Dhaka court seeking an injunction so that BTRC does not realise the money from it and does not harass the mobile operator until the case is disposed of, but the court turned down the petition.
Robi in October this year moved the appeal to the High Court seeking injunction on BTRC’s move to realise the dues from Robi.
On October 20, the High Court admitted the appeal and after hearing the case on November 25, 2019, the High Court issued rule upon the petition.
Besides, the court was waiting for a written release of an appellate division order that on November 24, 2019, ordered the Grameenphone to pay Tk 20 billion immediately from the audit claim of Tk 125.79 billion by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
After seeing the appellate division’s order, the court passed order on Robi’s petition yesterday (Sunday).
BTRC’s lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raquib said that the High Court passed the order in line with the Supreme Court directives that have asked Grameenphone to pay Tk 20 billion immediately from the audit claim of Tk 125.79 billion by BTRC.