Mobile phone operator Banglalink claimed that it took around Tk 13 crore extra from the subscribers through an unapproved promotional package in 2011 after the telecom regulator asked it to refund Tk 92.33 crore on the same ground.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in August had issued a letter to Banglalink for refunding Tk 92.33 crore to the subscribers and pay Tk 10 lakh in fine within one month on charge of violating the telecom rules.
BTRC officials said Banglalink recently submitted a reply to the regulator saying that it took around Tk 13 crore additional charges from the subscribers between July 8, 2011 and November 16, 2011 through a daily flat tariff promotion.
‘Banglalink claimed the refundable amount should be around Tk 13 crore, not Tk 92 crore, as only the additional amount charged through the package should be refunded,’ a BTRC official told New Age.
‘We are not convinced with the Banglalink reply and asked for providing the break-up of the amount and also to provide the details of users who suffered for additional charging,’ he said.
He said the commission also asked to provide the breakup of active and deactivated users who had subscribed the said promotional offer.
‘It’s surprising to me how the amount came down so low from our assessment,’ he said.
He said Banglalink was yet to reply the last queries sent from the BTRC.
The BTRC issued the first letter to Banglalink on August 23, 2012 for refunding the money but yet to collect that as the operator is delaying the process, the official said.
Banglalink put a system of collecting Tk 4 daily from the balance of the subscribers registered with its daily flat tariff package in 2011, violating section 48 of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Act 2001.
The officials said that the commission on August 2, 2011 had asked Banglalink to stop the service but the operator continued it.
The BTRC in the August 23, 2012 notice said due to a late implementation of the commission’s directive the subscribers of Banglalink lost Tk 92.33 crore.
The BTRC notice said in case of post-paid subscribers the operator would have to adjust the amount, which it charged extra, with their monthly balance.
In case of pre-paid subscribers, the amount has to be refunded through balance refill, it said.
The BTRC also imposed Tk 10 lakh fine on Banglalink on charge of violating the commission’s order.
BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose told New Age that the matter was still pending as the operator was not cooperating in proper manner.
‘We asked for some papers to assess the whole issue but Banglalink is delaying to provide us with the information,’ he told New Age recently.
Sunil Kanti said considering the greater interest of the subscribers the BTRC would solve the matter soon.
‘The amount may vary a little but Banglalink will have to pay the extra money it had charged from users and the fine as well,’ he said.
Asked about the issue Banglalink’s regulatory and legal affairs senior director Zakiul Islam told New Age that the company had submitted the relevant information to the BTRC.
‘We have submitted detail data to the BTRC and hope that the commission will get back to us on the issue,’ he said.
-With New Age input
