The telecom regulator would block six International Gateway Operators (IGWs) as they owe around Tk200 crore to the national exchequer, officials said.
They said a decision would be taken likely today, a couple of days after Post and Telecommunication Minister Rashed Khan Menon forewarning Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on Sunday.
Five of the six IGWs could be confirmed. They are Mos5 Tel Limited, Ranks Telecom Limited, First Communications Limited, SM Communication and Sigma Engineers Limited.
Mos5 Tel Limited owned by former Health Minister A F M Ruhal Haque. First Communications Limited owned by the Prime Minister’s advisor Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu.
The minister also informed representatives from Telecom Reporters’ Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) about the action at his office in Dhaka yesterday.
“I have told the BTRC to be tougher to collect the outstanding bills,” Menon told the reporters. “I also requested them to suspend some licences of the IGWs, which will be an example for other operators.”
According to the guideline, the IGWs earn $.03 for per minute of incoming international calls and they have to share 51.75% of it with the regulator.
Earlier in September, BTRC had blocked six IGWs having an outstanding of Tk613 crore – most of the companies were politically powerful.
A sum of Tk146.5 crore remained unpaid against Vision Tel Ltd, previously owned by a former minister’s daughter.
Ratul Telecom Limited, an IGW of former State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak’s wife and daughter with an outstanding of Tk96.5 crore.
Kay Telecommunications Limited a company of ruling party leader Shamim Osman from Narayanganj. The company paid only Tk9 crore against their outstanding Tk91.5 crore.
Telex Limited’s outstanding is Tk92.5 crore while two IGWs – Bestec Telecom Limited and Apple GlobalTel Com Ltd – owe respectively Tk127.5 crore and Tk58.5 crore.
And total outstanding amount of IGWs revenue sharing stands at Tk1,115 crore so far, sources said.
Earlier, the government had awarded 25 IGW licenses in 2012 on political consideration. Before that, three licences, including one government operator, have been awarded in 2008 under an open auction.
