Grey market traders allowed to sell illegal phones until March as NEIR takes effect from Dec 16

After mobile handset registration becomes mandatory, only approved legal devices will be permitted to connect to networks

The government has informed all stakeholders, including grey market mobile phone traders, that the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR) for mobile handsets will take effect from Dec 16.

Illegally imported phones evading customs duties, however, can continue to be sold until Mar 15, after which no unregistered device will be allowed on the network.

In response, members of the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) staged a protest on Wednesday evening, blocking traffic near Pan Pacific Sonargaon crossing in Dhaka.

The announcement followed a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday evening, chaired by Post and Telecommunications Secretary Abdun Naser Khan.

Attendees included MBCB leaders, representatives of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), National Board of Revenue officials, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Commissioner Mahmud Hossain, and Spectrum Department Director General Brigadier General Aminul Haque.

After the meeting, MBCB President Mohammad Aslam told bdnews24.com: “We have been given time to sell our stock until March.”

Asked about other demands, he said: “I am currently in the movement; I will speak later.”

The protest quickly escalated into a road blockade at Sonargaon intersection. Police officials, including Tejgaon Division Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazlul Karim, reported that surrounding roads were blocked, causing major traffic disruption as authorities tried to disperse the demonstrators.

The roadblock inflicted misery on commuters.

Office worker Morsheda Yasmin said, “I was stuck in my office car, then had to walk to Shahbagh to catch the metro. Even there, it was crowded, so I plan to take an Uber from Mirpur to reach Bashundhara.”

Protesters set fire to the road and vandalised a double-decker BRTC bus. They have been demonstrating for several days against the NEIR system, which will prevent the use of illegally imported phones and close the market for unauthorised second-hand handsets.