Norway, Bangladesh seek peaceful remedy to Grameenphone legal dispute 

Both Norway and Bangladesh look forward to a peaceful settlement of the legal dispute between Grameenphone and the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 

The issue came under discussion at the second political consultation between Bangladesh and Norway, held at the State Guest House, Padma in the capital on Tuesday morning. 

Both governments took note of the recent verdict given by the Supreme Court and want a peaceful remedy to the dispute, according to a press release.  

Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary General of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Tore Hattrem represented their respective countries during the consultation. 

The issue began in April last year, when the telecom regulator demanded that Grameenphone – in which Norwegian firm Telenor Mobile Communications AS holds 55.8 percent share – pay an unpaid audit claim of Tk12,580 crore. 

But the company refused to pay, questioning the audit process.  

The telecom operator appealed to the lower court, seeking a temporary injunction on the BTRC claim, but the court denied. Grameenphone then moved to the High Court with the same request.

In October last year, a High Court bench issued a two-month injunction against the BTRC move.

Later, the telecom regulator appealed to the Appellate Division, seeking a stay order on the injunction, which was approved.