Reza Mahmud :
The largest mobile phone operator in the country, the Grameenphone has earned Tk 37,386 crore as net profits in the last 13 years after its enlisting in the stock exchanges in Dhaka and Chattogram in 2009, while Grameen Telecom has bagged Tk 12,786 crore as it is the owner of 34.20pc share of the company.
The shareholding structure of the Grameenphone comprises mainly two sponsor Shareholders namely Telenor Mobile Communications AS (55.80pc) and Grameen Telecom (34.20pc). The remaining 10.00pc shareholding includes the general public and other institutions.
Grameen Telecom established by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2006.
As of the latest announcement, Grameenphone has declared a 125pc cash dividend for its shareholders for 2023, which is the lowest since 2010.
The dividend pay-out ratio for 2023 represents 51.03pc of its total profit, while it had paid 98.72pc of its total profit in 2022.
The declaration of dividends came out at its board of directors meeting held on February 4. The board also approved its audited financials for 2023.
As per the dividend history of the Gremeenphone, which got listed in 2009, had paid a 120pc cash dividend as of 85pc final and 35pc interim dividend in 2010.
After that, till 2022, GP did not pay such lower dividends as per the data.
The audited report for 2023 showed the GP registered a 9.90pc growth in profit compared to 2022.
The GP’s net profit for 2023 stood at Tk 3,307 crore, which was Tk 3,009 crore in the previous year.
In 2021, GP’s net profit was Tk 3,413 crore, it was 3,718 crore in 2020 and was Tk 3,451 crore in 2019.
The GP earned Tk 3,520 crore as net profit in 2018 and Tk 2,740 crore in 2017. It bagged Tk 2,250 crore in 2016 and Tk 1,970 crore in 2015.
It has announced that Tk 1,980 crore cash dividend in 2014 and Tk 1,890 crore in 2013.
Besides, the GP got Tk 1,750 crore in 2012 and Tk 2,768 crore in 2011 and Tk 1,620 crore in its first year of getting enlisted in stock markets in 2010.
The GP said in its latest announcement that its earnings per share (EPS) stood at Tk 24.49 for 2023, up from Tk 22.29 in 2022.
The report showed its revenue increased by 5.51pc to Tk 15,870 crore, which was Tk 15,040 crore in 2022.
Grameenphone became stock listed and started its trading at Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchanges from 16 November 2009.
The GP witnessed a 12pc year-on-year decline in EPS in 2022. Its EPS was Tk 22.29, which was Tk 25.28 in 2021.
Based on its profitability, the mobile operator paid 220pc cash dividends – 95pc final cash and 125pc interim dividend. The dividend pay-out ratio represents 98.72pc of its total profit.
Grameenphone shares price remained stuck at Tk286.60 each at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) on February 5.
Meanwhile, Grameen Bank on February 12 named new directors for Grameen Telecom and Grameen Kalyan, with Prof Dr AKM Saiful Majid taking over as chairman, replacing Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Dr. Yunus has characterised these moves as ‘plundering’, public harassment and ‘blueprint’ to destroy his social enterprises.
Dr Muhammad Yunus has alleged that Grameen Bank has seized eight of their institutions.
“We approached police but did not get any help,” he alleged at a press conference at Grameen Telecom office in Mirpur on February 15.
“Now outsiders will decide if I can enter my office.
I have fallen into misery.
I am in a terrible situation. We built this building, it is the realisation of our dream. Suddenly, four days ago, outsiders came and started illegally occupying them and we became outsiders,” he said.
Dr Yunus said he would move the court. In response to a question, he said these institutions were built with the money from business profits. “We didn’t use Grameen Bank’s money. Everything happened in accordance with the law,” he said.
Grameen Telecom building houses 16 companies. Dr Yunus is the chairman of each of them.
On February 12, eight offices in this building were taken over by Grameen Bank, Dr Yunus said.
