The telecom ministry has asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to cancel the bidding process to appoint audit firms for inspecting mobile operators, as the regulator breached rules in recruiting auditors for the task.
The regulatory body did not take permission from the ministry before appointing the audit firms, and violated telecommunication and public procurement rules, alleged the telecom ministry and experts.
The ministry advised the BTRC to comply with the decision of the review panel of the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU), which cancelled the bidding process.
However, the BTRC denied the allegations, and is continuing the audits.
In a May 24 letter, the ministry said the decision of the review panel was final, and requested the commission to take necessary steps.
The review panel of the CPTU cancelled the bidding process after a participant in the bidding alleged that there were anomalies in the process. The review panel gave a verdict that the bidding process was not according to the PPR and suggested fresh bidding.
In April, the regulator in the first phase appointed two chartered accountant firms to audit two mobile operators -- Grameenphone and Banglalink -- after short-listing six audit firms.
Later, one of the short-listed firms, which did not get the job, challenged the bidding process, saying there were anomalies.
Now two auditors are inspecting Grameenphone and Banglalink.
According to telecommunication laws, the BTRC needs to take prior approval from the ministry to appoint consultants.
Barrister Tanjib-Ul Alam said the commission did not take prior permission and has violated the telecom act in appointing the auditors.
He said an auditor is appointed by the shareholders. But when the BTRC appoints audit firms, their role is that of a consultant as envisaged under the telecom law.
Telecom Secretary Sunil Kanti Bose said: “We have advised the commission to abide by the verdict of the review panel.”
He said there should be no problem in a fresh bidding to appoint new audit firms.
Bose also said the BTRC is not fully controlled by the ministry. But there are some issues that have to be approved by the ministry. The commission did not inform the ministry before appointing the auditors, he said.
However, BTRC officials said the commission does not need to take such permission.
In a reply to the letter of the ministry, the BTRC said the complaint against the bidding process was not raised at the right time.
The commission also said it will continue the audits.
The regulatory body did not take permission from the ministry before appointing the audit firms, and violated telecommunication and public procurement rules, alleged the telecom ministry and experts.
The ministry advised the BTRC to comply with the decision of the review panel of the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU), which cancelled the bidding process.
However, the BTRC denied the allegations, and is continuing the audits.
In a May 24 letter, the ministry said the decision of the review panel was final, and requested the commission to take necessary steps.
The review panel of the CPTU cancelled the bidding process after a participant in the bidding alleged that there were anomalies in the process. The review panel gave a verdict that the bidding process was not according to the PPR and suggested fresh bidding.
In April, the regulator in the first phase appointed two chartered accountant firms to audit two mobile operators -- Grameenphone and Banglalink -- after short-listing six audit firms.
Later, one of the short-listed firms, which did not get the job, challenged the bidding process, saying there were anomalies.
Now two auditors are inspecting Grameenphone and Banglalink.
According to telecommunication laws, the BTRC needs to take prior approval from the ministry to appoint consultants.
Barrister Tanjib-Ul Alam said the commission did not take prior permission and has violated the telecom act in appointing the auditors.
He said an auditor is appointed by the shareholders. But when the BTRC appoints audit firms, their role is that of a consultant as envisaged under the telecom law.
Telecom Secretary Sunil Kanti Bose said: “We have advised the commission to abide by the verdict of the review panel.”
He said there should be no problem in a fresh bidding to appoint new audit firms.
Bose also said the BTRC is not fully controlled by the ministry. But there are some issues that have to be approved by the ministry. The commission did not inform the ministry before appointing the auditors, he said.
However, BTRC officials said the commission does not need to take such permission.
In a reply to the letter of the ministry, the BTRC said the complaint against the bidding process was not raised at the right time.
The commission also said it will continue the audits.