Grameenphone protested against the recent BTRC directive to the IIG operators in Bangladesh to reduce their international internet bandwidth to Grameenphone by 30 percent, at a press conference today held in Dhaka.

While the directive is not addressed to Grameenphone, BTRC has publicly stated that the bandwidth capacity will remain blocked until Grameenphone pay a disputed audit demand. The BTRC directive is therefore specially designed to put pressure on the operator by negatively impacting customer experience on the operator’s network. The directive would also have a negative consequence for local business communities and for the affected IIGs as they would lose potential revenue and business opportunities for a situation totally outside their control.

The operator asserted that it was very unfortunate that directives to the IIG operators were given in an attempt by the regulator to pressure GP to pay a disputed audit claim. The telecom operator believes that this move is illegal, and the company will seekintervention of the Court against this unconscionable decision of the regulator..

Speaking on the occasion, Michael Foley, CEO of Grameenphone, stated, “The directive adds a burden to Bangledeshi people and businesses. We request BTRC to withdraw the referenced directives and cooperate in resolving the disputed audit demand through a constructive arbitration process under the Arbitration Act 2001.”

Earlier Grameenphone had served a Notice of Arbitration on the BTRC inviting the regulator to a constructive arbitration process to resolve the disputed audit claim. BTRC has remained silent.

Grameenphone has been continuously reiterating that a constructive relationship with the regulator based on commonvisions and goals is required to realize the Digital Bangladesh ambition. There is a need for clear guidelines and a framework that is fair, transparent and adheres to the laws of Bangladesh.

Pointing out that Grameenphone is a compliant company, Michael Foley highlighted that GP has been the largest corporate taxpayer in the country since 2015.