Mobile phone traders announce indefinite shutdown, call to besiege BTRC

The Bangladesh Mobile Business Community has announced an indefinite closure of all mobile handset shops across the country.

The shutdown will begin on Sunday (7 Dec) as part of a protest demanding reforms to the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR), the abolition of syndicate practices and the opening up of mobile phone import opportunities.

At the same time, the association has declared that its members will lay siege to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) office in Agargaon on Sunday to press for their demands, Secretary of the Bangladesh Mobile Business Community Abu Sayeed Pias confirmed.

The traders’ key demands include reforming the NEIR system, eliminating alleged syndicate control in the market, and allowing broader opportunities for mobile phone imports.

According to the association, the implementation of NEIR will negatively impact hundreds of thousands of traders and their families.

They allege the new system will primarily benefit a “special group,” while increased taxes and regulations will raise mobile phone prices for consumers.

Earlier on 30 November, mobile shop owners and employees from various shopping malls held a human chain in the Karwan Bazar–Panthapath area by keeping their shops closed as part of a pre-announced protest program.

The government plans to introduce the NEIR system on 16 December to strengthen security in the telecommunications sector and prevent the use of unregistered mobile handsets.

Once implemented, unregistered, stolen, or illegally imported phones will no longer function on mobile networks in Bangladesh.