Norway wants to discuss Grameenphone’s unpaid dues with Bangladesh. On Tuesday (Mar 3) morning, Bangladesh will have a foreign secretary level meet with Norway and the latter has asked for the issue to be included in the agenda.

An official of the foreign ministry said: “Norway raised the issue last October and we told them that to carry on business in Bangladesh, GP has to pay the dues to the government; Norway government also asked for the amount to be fixed in a just and fair manner.”

“We have made papers in this regard and at the meeting of secretaries, high profile officials and lawyers will be present.”

BTRC sent a notice to GP to pay dues upto Tk 12.58 billion but since the money was not paid, BTRC sent them a notice asking why the licence of the operator will not be cancelled.

In the last month, GP submitted Tk 10 billion and said that an additional Tk 10 billion will be submitted after three months.

Norway is expert in blue economy and Bangladesh will want support from the country on the matter. A foreign office official said: “To acquire expertise in this field, Bangladesh wants to get the support of Norway.”

To sustain the middle income status of Bangladesh, assistance from European nations will be required.

Norway can help us in acquiring mineral resources from the sea, added the spokesperson.