Tk9,010cr of govt fund loss: ACC sues 6 ex-BTRC top officials

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against six former top officials of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) over allegations of causing financial losses amounting to Tk9,010 crore to the government.

ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed the matter to The Business Standard today (3 December).

The accused are former chairpersons Sunil Kanti Bose and Shahjahan Mahmud; former vice chairman Brig Gen (retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan; former commissioners Md Jahurul Haque, Md Rezaul Kader, and Md Aminul Hasan.

According to the ACC, the accused unlawfully granted illegal benefits to International Gateway (IGW) operators by violating government directives, relevant laws and policies. These irregularities led to massive losses in government revenue.

ACC sources said that between 18 September 2014 and 30 September 2015, the fixed termination rate for international incoming calls was $0.03 per minute on a trial basis. However, the accused illegally reduced this rate to $0.015 and lowered the government's revenue share from 51.75% to 40%.

At the same time, IGW operators' share was increased from 13.25% to 20%. These benefits continued for an additional 28 months even after the trial period ended -- without government approval.

As a result, the government suffered a total financial loss of Tk9,010.74 crore. This includes Tk383.73 crore from reduced revenue share, Tk2,941.99 crore from lower call termination rates, and Tk5,685.01 crore lost as potential foreign exchange earnings.

The case has been approved under Sections 409 and 418 of the Penal Code, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2012, the ACC said.