It is Citycell’s duty to pay employees: Tarana

It is Citycell`s duty to find a way to pay its employees, telecom regulator has nothing much to do other than appealing for the payment, said State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim.

The minister was replying to reporters` queries at a news conference at BTCL office in Gulshan on Friday, reports bdnews24.com.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) suspended Citycell`s spectrum on Thursday after it failed to pay Tk 4.77 billion outstanding government dues.

Asked whether any step will be taken to clear the pays of its employees, Tarana said, "An organisation follows its own rules. BTRC is only the regulator here."

"From where a company will take loan, how it will repay or how the employees` pays will be paid - these are solely the company`s duty," she said.

"But there will be a humanitarian appeal from the telecoms division and BTRC to Citycell - please pay all the arrears," she added.

Facing the same query on Thursday, BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood said, “The employees did not knock BTRC in time. If they came in time, we could have done something.”

Since the closure was announced in August , Citycell employees have been demonstrating for arrears and compensation in the event of job loss.

The firm currently has 650 employees, including 450 permanent ones.