45 land in jail over vandalism at BTRC building during NEIR protest

The case centres on damage to property during opposition to the NEIR launch

A Dhaka court has sent 45 people to jail over vandalism at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building during protests against the introduction of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Israt Jahan passed the order on Friday after police sought to keep the suspects in custody.

The incident took place on Thursday when mobile handset traders staged a protest outside the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, opposing the rollout of the NEIR system. During the protest, the BTRC building was attacked and vandalised.

Following the incident, Muhammad Ashrafuj Jaman Jahed, assistant director of the BTRC’s Legal and Licensing Division, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Special Powers Act.

Investigation officer Sub-Inspector Shamsuzzoha Sarkar produced the suspects in court on Friday and applied to have them sent to jail.

According to the remand application, the suspects became agitated over the launch of the NEIR and gathered outside the BTRC building to protest.

It alleged that they later carried out a planned attack on the premises, disrupting public order, and set fire to a 51-seat bus belonging to the BTRC, parked outside the building.

Lawyers defending the suspects sought bail. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail pleas and ordered the defendants to be sent to jail.