BTRC says ‘no’ to used mobile imports, traders refuse to budge

Mobile trader leaders emerge from talks with BTRC officials after three hours to announce that a solution has not been found

After protests, building sieges, and arson attacks, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has remained adamant on its decision to ban unauthorised mobile phones.

Following a meeting with officials on Tuesday, grey market mobile phone traders said a compromise has not been reached. They still want to import old phones from abroad, but the BTRC has refused to alter its decision on this matter.

The BTRC decided to hold a meeting with the traders, who are unauthorised mobile importers and sellers of the country, on Tuesday after they blocked the road in Dhaka’s Agargaon for about 10 hours on Sunday.

A 10-strong delegation from the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), an organisation of grey market traders, attended a meeting that began at 11am at the BTRC building.

Mobile traders gathered around the BTRC building before 11am in anticipation of the discussion. Protest leaders emerged from the meeting after over three hours, saying the discussions were not fruitful.

Their main demand was to obtain approval for the import of used phones, but alleged the BTRC did not pay any attention to that issue.