The largest share of the outstanding amount is owed by Grameenphone, followed by state-owned Teletalk, according to information presented in parliament

Highlights:

• Total outstanding dues from four mobile operators stand at Tk13,344 crore
• Grameenphone owes the highest amount at Tk6,102 crore
• State-owned Teletalk’s dues amount to Tk5,954 crore

TDS Desk

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today (24 June) informed parliament that the country’s four mobile phone operators owe the government a combined Tk13,344 crore in outstanding dues.

Grameenphone accounts for the largest share of the total amount, amounting to Tk6,102 crore, followed by state-owned Teletalk Bangladesh Limited at Tk5,954 crore.

The minister disclosed the information during the parliamentary question-answer session in response to a query from Cox’s Bazar-3 lawmaker Lutfur Rahman.

According to the minister, the outstanding dues stem from various liabilities, including licence fees, revenue-sharing payments, spectrum fees, administrative penalties, contributions to the Social Obligation Fund (SOF), and claims arising from audit objections.

Government data presented in parliament show that Teletalk owes Tk5,954 crore to the state. The dues relate to licence fees, revenue-sharing obligations, spectrum charges and other liabilities that have remained unresolved for years.

Among the private operators, Grameenphone owes the highest amount at Tk6,102 crore. The claims stem mainly from information systems audit objections and various VAT-related disputes. Cases related to these claims are currently pending before the higher courts.

Robi Axiata Limited owes Tk615 crore, including claims arising from audit objections and revenue-sharing disputes. Related cases are also under judicial review.

Banglalink Digital Communications Limited owes Tk473 crore, primarily due to audit objections and revenue-sharing-related claims, according to the information placed before parliament.

The minister said the recovery process has been prolonged because several of the claims against mobile operators are currently under judicial consideration.

In particular, disputes involving audit objections and revenue-sharing arrangements have delayed the settlement process, leaving a significant amount of government revenue tied up in litigation, he added.