Dhaka: The formal process to scrap the licence of Citycell, the country’s oldest mobile phone operator, begins on Wednesday for its failure to pay BTRC Tk 477.51 crore dues, said State Minister for Posts and Communications Tarana Halim on Tuesday.

“BTRC owes Citycell Tk 477.51 crore as revenue. The mobile company has failed to pay the outstanding amount although notices were served on it several times. That’s why the ministry has decided to scrap its licence,” she told a press conference after a meeting over the Citycell issue at the secretariat.

The junior minister said the ministry will send a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday in this regard. “The formal process to scrap its licence will begin on Wednesday and its subscribers will get seven days for switching to other operators,” she said.

Tarana said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had earlier issued a notification asking the Citycell subscribers to switch to alternative operator by August 16.

Responding to a query on how the dues will be realised from Citycell, she said due legal process will be followed in this regard.

Asked about the Citycell’s employees who will lose their jobs once it is closed, the sate minister said it is not her ministry’s headache.  “It’s their internal matter,” she said.

Replying to another question as to why the government is not taking action against Teletalk and BTCL although they defaulted on paying government revenues, Tarana said the government might settle the matter through granting loan to them or any other way as those are state-owned entities.

Meanwhile, Posts and Communications Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury said Citicell is not being shut down suddenly. “It had been given enough time. The ministry has taken the decision following all procedures.”