The Daily Morning Voice Online Desk: The Appellate Division on Tuesday ordered three mobile operators of the country –Grameenphone, Banglalink and Robi–to pay Tk 2,500 crore as part of their debts. It also said that the government, National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) should pay this amount. A five-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order on Tuesday following a petition against the High Court order.

In its order, the Appellate Division  asked Grameenphone to pay Tk 1,400 crore, Robi Tk 500 crore and Banglalink Tk 650 crore.
In 2012, three foreign mobile operators submitted a writ to the High Court stating that the government was taking excessive taxes and VATs from them. However, the companies subsequently lose their writ. About the deadline of the payment, BTRC’s lawyer Barrister Reza-e Rakib said, “Until we receive a copy of the order, we can’t tell how much time we have. However, for now, it can be said that the money has to be paid soon.”