The country's telecom regulator has said three mobile network operators (MNOs) will have to pay Tk24 billion dues as per the Supreme Court verdict.
At a press conference held at BTRC office in the city on Sunday, BTRC chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed said the dues are people's money, and the MNOs must pay the money.
The BTRC chairman said the press conference was organised to clarify the issue as the media interpreted the verdict variously.
On January 10, a Supreme Court bench delivered a verdict that Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink are required to add the Value Added Tax (VAT) to the demanded money for renewing their license and purchasing spectrums.
Besides, the operators will not get any rebate facility from the VAT to be paid for the same purposes.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique delivered the verdict after hearing several appeal petitions filed by the mobile phone operators and government bodies.
Speaking at press meet, BTRC Commissioner (Legal and Licensing) Abu Syed Diljar Hussain said mobile operators have been paying BTRC's dues by including 15 per cent VAT instead of paying actual amount.
"For example, if Tk100 was the original amount, they paid Tk85 to BTRC, the remaining Tk 15 was shown as VAT," he said.
Stating that necessary measures will be taken to collect the dues from the operators concerned after the publication of the full verdict, he said, adding BTRC will take legal action in this regard if the decision of the highest court of the country is not implemented.
He also said if the MNOs are delayed late charges will be included with the actual amount.
Government gets a fee from the spectrum allocated to the Grameenphone, Robi Axiata and Banglalink and value added tax is imposed on that fee.
However, the companies challenged the decision of imposing VAT by filing a case with the High Court.
Following the case, three separate benches of the High Court division ruled that Grameenphone and Robi will get rebate facility from the VAT to be paid to the government; however, Banglalink will not get it.
Later mobile operators, BTRC and NBR filed different appeal petitions on different grounds regarding the issue.
After hearing on the petitions, the Appellate Division delivered its verdict on Tuesday saying that Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink are required to add VAT to the money demanded for renewing their license and purchasing spectrums.
Besides, the operators will not get any rebate facility from the VAT to be paid for the same purposes.
BTRC director general (finance, accounts and revenue) Ashish Kumar Kundu said as on November 22, 2022, Grameenphone's amount payable to BTRC is Tk 11.63 billion, Banglalink's amount payable to BTRC is Tk6,25 billion, Robi's amount payable to BTRC is Tk 5.65,
Airtel's amount payable to BTRC is Tk. 590.50 million. BTRc will get entire amount, no VAT could be included with the amount," he added.
BTRC lawyer Khandaker Reza-E-Raquib was also present at the press briefing.
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