Bangladesh Government Owed Tk 13,144 Crore by Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi and Banglalink

The Bangladesh government is owed about Tk 13,144 crore in revenue by the country’s four mobile operators—Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi Axiata and Banglalink Digital Communications—Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam told parliament on Wednesday.

The minister disclosed the figure during question time in response to a question from Cox’s Bazar-3 lawmaker Lutfur Rahman. The matter was tabled during the sitting chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Fakir Mahbub Anam said the government’s total outstanding revenue from the four operators stands at Tk 13,144 crore. Of that amount, Tk 5,954 crore is owed by Teletalk, Tk 6,102 crore by Grameenphone, Tk 615 crore by Robi Axiata and Tk 473 crore by Banglalink Digital Communications.

Regarding Teletalk, the minister said Tk 5,954 crore remains unpaid in licence fees, revenue sharing, spectrum fees, administrative penalties and social obligation fund contributions. Teletalk’s application to convert Tk 5,554 crore into equity is under consideration at the Ministry of Finance, he added.

On Grameenphone, the minister said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s total claim arising from information system audit objections stands at Tk 8,494.01 crore. Following court directives, the operator has paid Tk 2,392.19 crore in two instalments. The current outstanding amount is Tk 6,101.82 crore, and the matter is pending before the High Court.

On Robi Axiata, Fakir Mahbub Anam said BTRC’s total claim, based on information system audit objections and VAT on paid revenue sharing, stands at Tk 678 crore. Under court orders, Robi Axiata has paid Tk 188 crore in five instalments. A case over the remaining amount is pending before the High Court.

On Banglalink Digital Communications, the minister said BTRC’s total claim, based on information system audit objections and VAT on paid revenue sharing, stands at Tk 473 crore. The operator has paid a total of Tk 381 crore, while court proceedings over the remaining amount are ongoing.