Govt’s audit claim to Robi remains at Tk 867 crore

DOT Desk
The government’s audit claim to the second largest mobile phone operator Robi Axiata Limited remained unchanged at Tk 867 crore as the telecom regulator binned the mobile phone operator’s explanation regarding a recent audit, reports The New Age.
The Bangladesh Telecommunicating Regulatory Commission at a recent commission meeting rejected the explanation by Robi whose dues have been accumulated over the years.
The regulator did not find any ground to accept Robi’s explanation and again asked it to deposit the claimed amount of Tk 867 crore by 10 days, a senior official of the commission told New Age Monday. Earlier on July 31 this year, the telecom regulator issued a demand letter to Robi asking the operator to deposit Tk 867 crore within ten working days. The telecom regulator finalised the claim amount based on a report of an audit firm appointed by BTRC to look into Robi’s financial issues.
Instead of paying the dues, the mobile phone operator submitted a 32-page explanation to the telecom regulator.
The outstanding amount to be paid by Robi includes Tk 197.21 crore in late fees.
The dues include Tk 677.76 crore in BTRC dues and the rest Tk 189.47 crore in NBR dues.
BTRC officials said that the commission would take legal measures to recover the claim amount if Robi refrained from paying the money within the stipulated time.
‘The audit issue has been reported several times in the past. We have reiterated the audit claim is manifestly inappropriate,’ a Robi statement attributed by its vice-president (media, communications and sustainability) Ekram Kabir said.
‘The claim doesn’t follow the basic principles of law or natural justice,’ he said.
‘We have requested the BTRC to provide us an opportunity for a hearing which they have declined. It appears that BTRC does not wish to take responsibility of the claim and therefore has declined the hearing,’ Ekram said.
BTRC in March 15, 2016 appointed Masih Muhith Haque & Co and its foreign associate PKF Sridhar & Santhanam LLP Chartered Accounts India to carry out system audit of Robi since 1997.
Apart from Robi, the telecom operator also conducted system audit of leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone setting government’s total claim to the operator at Tk 11,524.98 crore.