DHAKA: A writ petition was filed with the High Court Tuesday challenging Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) decision switching off RanksTel and National Telecom, two of the five landline-phone operators recently shutdown.

Barrister Rafiq-ul-Haque filed the writ petition on behalf of the two companies. The hearing will take place Wednesday at the bench of Justice Najmun Ara Sultana and Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif.

Meanwhile, RanksTel chairman A Rouf Chowdhury filed a contempt-of-court case against the BTRC chairman and the Post and Telecommunications Secretary Monday as they did not comply with an HC order issued on May 11.

On May 11, the HC directed the BTRC and government to appoint an administrator to run RanksTel, which is yet to be executed even after the lapse of two months.
   
Hearing of the contempt charge will be held at the bench of Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Govinda Chandra Thakur Wednesday.  

The government on May 10 this year shut down five private telephone companies, better known as PSTN or public switched telephone network, such as RanksTel, People’s Tel, Wall Tell, National Telecom and Dhaka Phone.

BDST 1543 HRS, JULY 13, 2010