SC asks BTRC to allow Citycell operation in 24 hours

The Appellate Division on Tuesday directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to allow mobile phone company Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited under the brand name of Citycell to continue its operation within 24 hours.

A three-member bench headed by chief justice SK Sinha issued the directive after hearing a petition filed by Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited challenging the legality of cancelling Citycell’s licence.

The BTRC on Monday decided to cancel the licence of Citycell for non-payment of fresh dues for the period from October 2016 to March 2017.

The telecom regulator finalised the decision at a special commission meeting presided over by its chairman Shahjahan Mahmood.

Mahmood said that they would make the decision public within this week through advertising in the media. 

The BTRC earlier in October 2016 suspended the operation of Citycell over payment dispute. 

The operation of the mobile phone operator, however, was restored following a court order but the company failed to continue its operation.

The commission came up with the latest decision to cancel the licence after the approval from the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is in charge of the posts and telecommunications ministry.

The BTRC proposal for Citycell’s licence cancellation was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office through posts and telecommunications ministry.

The ministry gave green light to BTRC on the licence cancellation on July 13.

The spectrum that was allocated for Citycell was confiscated in May this year.

The mobile service of Citycell has remained suspended since October last year following its dispute with the telecom regulator over non-payment of dues worth around Tk 477 crore accumulated till October 2016.

Citycell took its licence in 1989 and began operation in 1993, with its subscription hitting a peak of 19 lakh in 2011.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net