SC: Why is Citycell still closed?

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha sought the explanation from the telecom regulator on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Citycell's lawyer brought the matter to the court's notice. BTRC lawyer Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh informed court that the telecom regulator will hold a meeting regarding the spectrum allocation today. On November 3, Bangladesh’s first mobile operating company Citycell got the apex court's nod to continue its operation until November 19. Within the date, it will have to pay Tk100 crore to BTRC to continue its operations and if it fails, the telecom regulator may cancel its spectrum again. The company owes the BTRC Tk477.69 crore in spectrum renewal fee, annual licence and spectrum fee, VAT and late fees. But Citycell disagreed with the BTRC over the amount saying that it would be much less since the regulator’s method of determining the amount was flawed. Later the Supreme Court asked the operator to pay two thirds of the dues by October 19, but they have so far paid Tk130 crore. After the BTRC suspended Citycell’s operations, the oldest mobile operator of the country moved the apex court.