Mobile phone traders block Pragati Sarani to protest unauthorised handset ban

Witnesses say over a hundred traders marched under the banner of “Mobile Business Community Bangladesh”

Mobile handset traders and their employees have staged a protest on the road in front of Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka for about an hour and a half over the government’s move to ban unauthorised mobile phones.

The demonstration began around 1:15pm on Tuesday, when protesters occupied both sides of Pragati Sarani, halting traffic, according to Inspector Mostafizur Rahman from Vatara Police Station.

Traffic resumed after 2:15pm once the protesters cleared the road, he said.

Witnesses said more than a hundred traders took part in the protest under the banner of “Mobile Business Community Bangladesh”.

Many sat on the road while chanting slogans against the decision.

The demonstration triggered a long tailback on the Badda-Kuril stretch, said Sagar Sarkar, assistant commissioner of the Badda traffic zone.

“Traffic was gridlocked on both sides. We are working to ease the situation,” he said.

On Sunday, many mobile phone shops in Dhaka and other districts remained closed as traders protested the government’s plan to fully enforce the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) from Dec 16.

Traders also demonstrated at the SAARC fountain intersection in Karwan Bazar that day.

A day later, they took their protest to another key point of the capital by blocking the road near Jamuna Future Park.