GrameenPhone founder says listing an excellent idea

HELSINKI, June 28 (Reuters) The founder of GrameenPhone, the leading mobile group in Bandladesh, said floating the company next year is a very good idea, and he wished it could have been done earlier.

''I think it is an excellent idea that they go public by next year, Iqbal Quadir, GrameenPhone's founder, told a news conference in Helsinki on Thursday.

''It should have gone public sooner. It is good for Bangladesh,'' he added.

Norwegian Telenor , which owns 62 percent of GrameenPhone, has said it would keep a majority stake even after listing the company in Dhaka, a stance which has disappointed minority partner, Grameen Telecom head Muhammad Yunus.

Grameen Telecom has repeatedly said Telenor had promised to give it control over GrameenPhone.

REUTERS DKS KP2059