Mobile traders suspend blockade until 9 Dec after BTRC agrees to NEIR reforms; shops to remain shut
A high-level meeting will be held on 9 Dec for a final decision surrounding NEIR complexities
Mobile phone traders have suspended their day-long blockade in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in the capital's Agargaon after the regulator agreed in principle to reform the proposed National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) policy.
Around 9pm, the demonstrators left the area. However, traders said all mobile phone markets across the country will remain closed until a final decision is reached.
Speaking to The Business Standard tonight (7 December), Bangladesh Mobile Business Community Secretary Abu Sayeed Pias said, "The commission has agreed to reform the proposed NEIR policy. We have suspended the blockade until 9 December, but all mobile shops will remain shut."
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"Another meeting will take place on 9 December. Hopefully, we will reach a final decision there," he added.
The announcement came around 8:45pm, following two rounds of meetings between the traders and BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari.
The chairman assured that all complexities surrounding NEIR would be discussed in a high-level meeting to be held at BTRC office on 9 December.
He informed that the meeting will include the telecom and finance advisers, the NBR chairman, the commerce secretary, representatives of the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Manufacturing Association, and the Bangladesh Mobile Business Community.
Traders expressed hope that the upcoming discussions would produce a practical and sustainable solution, helping restore stability to the handset market.
Earlier today, mobile traders besieged the BTRC office from morning to press their eight-point demand, including amendments to the NEIR policy and a minimum six-month grace period before implementation.
From 10:30am, traders, who were protesting the government move to disable unapproved handsets, blocked the road in front of the office, halting traffic along the Shyamoli–Agargaon route.
The blockade caused severe gridlock across surrounding areas, including Shishumela intersection, Mirpur Road, Agargaon, and parts of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, police said.
The Bangladesh Army and police were deployed around the building to maintain order.
The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Community warned that an abrupt rollout of NEIR would devastate small and medium businesses, disrupt supply chains, and increase device prices, pushing consumers into uncertainty.
During the protest, Ahmadul Haq, a trader from Bashundhara City Market, told The Business Standard, "We are in talks with a representative. If our demands are not met, we will not clear the road."
Another trader Ismail told TBS, "We have heard that the authorities are positive about our demands. We might receive a positive announcement by evening."
The demonstration follows an earlier announcement that all mobile phone shops across the country would remain closed indefinitely from Sunday as part of the protest.
The traders also demanded action against alleged syndication in the sector and permission for open import of mobile phones.
On 30 November, traders and employees from various shopping malls held a human chain in the Karwan Bazar-Panthapath area as part of their previously announced programme. Shops were kept closed during the demonstration.
Participants at that event claimed that full implementation of NEIR would cause losses to hundreds of thousands of traders and families, while benefitting only a select group.
They also warned that increased taxes could push mobile phone prices higher.
The 8-point demand
The traders' eight-point demand includes a six-month grace period from 16 December, arguing that small and large traders need this time to clear previous dues, obtain import licences, and complete BTRC vendor enlistment. Without such a window, they warn, lawful imports will collapse.
They also called for simplifying the NOC process, saying the current requirement for mandatory brand approval must be removed. Licensed traders should be allowed to import devices without obtaining written consent from individual brands, they said.
Another major demand is rationalising the VAT–tax gap between CBU and CKD imports. Traders say the existing structure creates an "abnormal and discriminatory" difference that distorts the market. A fairer tax margin is needed to restore healthy competition.
The community further sought a simplified IMEI registration process for buying, selling, and exchanging used phones, insisting that NEIR registration and de-registration must become instant and user-friendly. Sellers should be able to deregister immediately, and traders should be able to reregister devices before resale.
They demanded a fast, transparent, and automated registration/de-registration system for both consumers and businesses, ensuring hassle-free IMEI processing.
Another key demand involves a legal and accessible mechanism for expatriates' phones. Returning migrants should be allowed to register and sell their used or new devices without restrictive conditions, through a simple and fair process.
Traders also insisted that NEIR implementation be fully funded by the government, arguing that as a national security project, it should not rely on private firms or local manufacturers—an approach they say risks conflicts of interest and market bias.
Lastly, they sought an additional six months to clear unsold stock after NEIR rollout, with shop sales receipts being accepted as valid registration proof. This would prevent financial losses and allow traders to sell existing inventory legally.
