The finance minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, on Monday said that the government had no intention to scrap the licence of mobile phone operator Grameenphone.
He made the comment after a delegation of the company had met the minister on the day.
The delegation of the GP high officials led by Telenor Asia chairman Sigve Brekke met the finance minister on the day at his office to discuss the issue along with some other issues including VAT rebate on 2G licence and upcoming 3G auction.
‘They have expressed their unhappiness over the Grameen Bank Commission’s report but I have assured them that the licence of GP will not be scraped,’ Muhith told reporters after the meeting.
Asked whether the GP officials became satisfied with the reply, Muhith said, ‘It is sufficient for them not to worry about the issue.’
The Grameen Bank Commission in its recommendation suggested that the government cancel the operating licence of Grameenphone on the ground that the company misled the government in some critical issue while signing the agreement on November 11, 1996.
Since the mobile phone company is in operation the government may allow
it to continue the operation subject to rectification of the flaws, the four-member committee said.
It said Grameenphone Ltd might be asked to surrender the licence to Grameen Bank or Grameen Telecom. The government may also scrap the
licence now held by Grameenphone Ltd and issue a fresh licence in the
name of a trust to be set up anew.
-With New Age input
