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Published : 24 Jun 2026, 09:25 PM
Outstanding dues owed by Bangladesh's four prominent mobile operators to the government have reached Tk 131.44 billion, Telecoms Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has said.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said the dues include Tk 59.54 billion from state-owned Teletalk, Tk 61.02 billion from Grameenphone, Tk 6.15 billion from Robi Axiata and Tk 4.73 billion from Banglalink Digital Communications.
Bangladesh Satellite-1 posted nearly Tk 1.64 billion in profit over five fiscal years, he added.
He said Teletalk’s liabilities stem from licence fees, revenue-sharing charges, spectrum fees, administrative penalties and contributions to the social responsibility fund.
Of the total, Tk 55.54 billion is under consideration by the finance ministry for conversion into equity, he added.
On Grameenphone, the minister said the BTRC had initially claimed Tk 84.94 billion following an information systems audit.
The operator paid Tk 23.92 billion in two instalments under court orders, leaving Tk 61.02 billion outstanding. The matter remains before the higher courts.
The telecom regulator is seeking Tk 6.78 billion from Robi over audit objections and VAT on revenue-sharing payments.
The operator has paid Tk 1.88 billion in five court-mandated instalments, while the dispute over the remaining amount remains before the higher courts.
Banglalink faced a BTRC claim of Tk 4.73 billion on similar grounds.
The company has paid Tk 3.81 billion, with court proceedings continuing over the balance.
Replying to another question from Dhaka-19 MP Dewan Mohammod Salahuddin, the minister said the BTCL currently has 340,000 telephone subscribers.
Responding to a question from Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah, Mahbub said Bangladesh Satellite-1 generated Tk 7.64 billion in revenue from commercial operations between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2024-25.
Net profit during the period stood at Tk 1.64 billion, he added.
