Commission Confirms Competition Case Against Grameenphone
The Competition Commission has rejected Grameenphone’s petition seeking withdrawal of complaints filed by mobile operators Robi Axiata and Banglalink, ruling that the commission has sole authority to investigate and adjudicate allegations of competition violations. The decision was delivered on Monday, September 22, following a hearing at Borak Tower in Dhaka on September 17. The verdict was pronounced by Commission Chairman A.H.M. Ahsan, with three other members—Dr. Aktaruzzaman Talukdar, Wahid Hasan Shah, and Afroza Bilkis—present during the ruling.
The commission stated in its verdict, “The matter of competition violation will be examined by the Competition Commission. There is no obstacle to investigating, filing cases, and adjudicating based on the findings. This is not under BTRC’s jurisdiction. BTRC acts as a regulator, while the Competition Commission will investigate to mitigate negative market impacts.”
As a result of this ruling, the investigation into allegations that Grameenphone, as a Significant Market Power (SMP) operator, is allegedly abusing its position by selling SIMs at abnormally low prices to capture market share will commence promptly. The commission will announce the next hearing date and, if wrongdoing is found, will initiate legal action against the operator.
Expressing satisfaction over the ruling, Robi’s lawyer, Barrister Samir Sattar, said, “The Competition Commission, having considered legal arguments and irrefutable evidence, has ruled in favor of Robi. The verdict clarifies that the authority to examine negative market conduct does not lie with BTRC. Therefore, Grameenphone’s petition has been dismissed by the esteemed commission.”
Commenting on the matter, Robi Axiata PLC’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Sahed Alam stated, “We welcome the Competition Commission’s decision to appropriately investigate allegations of market competition abuse and anti-competitive practices. This is a positive step toward ensuring a level playing field, where innovation and fair competition will benefit consumers and contribute to the overall growth of the industry. We are committed to fully cooperating with the commission and will continue to support policies and practices that strengthen healthy market competition.”
Grameenphone, when contacted for comment, said, “We have learned that an order has been issued. However, we have not yet received an official certified copy of the order, so it is not possible to provide detailed comments at this moment. Nonetheless, we wish to reiterate firmly that Grameenphone conducts its business operations in full compliance with the prevailing competition laws of Bangladesh. Grameenphone is in no way involved in anti-competitive practices. We categorically deny all allegations regarding pricing, marketing, and distribution. The telecommunications sector in Bangladesh is strictly regulated by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Operated under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Act of 2001, this sector ensures fair competition, an open market, and consumer rights. As a regulator, BTRC oversees market entry, pricing, and all competitive activities. Grameenphone is operating lawfully as an SMP operator and adheres strictly to regulatory directives including MNP lock-in, campaign approvals, interconnection charges, and more. In such a highly regulated environment, the allegations against Grameenphone are unfounded and reflect negative competitive intent.”
