The court, however, issued a rule upon the government to show cause why its action approving change of name of cellular mobile phone operator licensee from Bangladesh Telegraph & Telephone Board (BTTB) to Teletalk Bangladesh Limited (TBL) should not be declared unlawful.

It also asked the government to explain why its order transferring the licence from BTTB to TBL and allowing it to use radio frequency allotted to BTTB should not be declared to have been made without lawful authority.

The rule, returnable in two weeks, came upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two citizens challenging the government action for violating the Bangladesh Telecommunications Act 2001.

The petitioner submitted that the government's orders have been issued under undue pressure and influence and also for collateral benefits as the Act barred to transfer a licence by deleting the name of one licence and inserting the name of another entity instead. The government has also violated the terms and conditions of issuing licence for any mobile phone company, the petitioner added.

On April 2, the state-owned Teletalk authorities had suspended distribution of subscription forms for its newly launched mobile phone due to inadequate capacity of handle the high rush and demand of aspirant subscribers.

Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud appeared for the petitioners while Additional Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali stood for the government.