Four mobile operators owe Tk13,144cr in revenue dues

The government is owed Tk13,144 crore in revenue by the four mobile phone operators currently operating in the country.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam disclosed the information in parliament on Wednesday in response to a starred question from Cox's Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman. 

According to the minister, state-owned operator Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd owes Tk5,954 crore on account of licence fees, revenue sharing, spectrum fees, late fees/penalties, and social obligation funds. The operator has applied for an equity conversion of Tk5,554 crore, which is now under consideration.

The current outstanding dues for Grameenphone Limited stand at Tk6,102 crore. However, the total claim was Tk8,494.01 crore. 

In compliance with court directives, Grameenphone paid Tk2,000 crore in 12 equal instalments and later paid another Tk392.19 crore following a VAT-related court judgment (totalling Tk2,392.19 crore). A case is now pending in the High Court.

Robi’s total dues are stated as Tk490 crore and Tk125 crore under separate heads. However, the initial claim of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) was Tk867 crore. Following court directives, Robi paid Tk138 crore in five equal instalments and later paid Tk50 crore after a VAT-related verdict (totalling Tk188 crore). Another Tk125 crore is outstanding as VAT on paid revenue sharing, which is currently under litigation.

Banglalink’s dues stand at Tk430 crore and Tk43 crore under separate heads. However, the BTRC’s claim was Tk811 crore. 

Banglalink paid Tk166 crore and another Tk215 crore following a VAT case verdict (totalling Tk381 crore). Tk43 crore is pending as VAT on paid revenue sharing, and the BTRC is in the process of filing a lawsuit regarding this.