20 hurt as police use batons, water cannons, tear shells to disperse mobile traders
Several police officers were injured while dispersing protesters, of whom, 8-10 were detained, police say
At least 20 mobile phone traders were injured and 12 reportedly detained as police dispersed protesters from several key intersections in the capital on Sunday morning (4 January) using baton charges, water cannons, tear shells and sound grenades, as shop owners staged sit-ins demanding the withdrawal and postponement of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system.
As part of a nationwide shutdown of mobile phone shops, traders staged blockades, and altercations with the police continued sporadically near the Sonargaon intersection, Basundhara City Shopping Complex, Panthapath, and Kathalbagan.
"At least 20 traders were injured by tear gas, and 12 people were reportedly detained," according to Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) Vice President Shamim Mollah.
Traffic in Karwan Bazar in the capital, returned to normal this after mobile phone traders lifted their blockade, following hours of clashes with law enforcement. The four-hour standoff ended once the traders cleared the roads, according to Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of Ramna.
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"The traders are now [1pm] stationed near the Kathalbagan area and in front of Somoy TV, but the police continue to deploy tear gas repeatedly," Shamim Mollah added.
Around 1:45 pm, the protesters were pushed from in front of Somoy TV toward Eastern Plaza. The protesters scattered into different narrow lanes. Later, police personnel stationed themselves near Sundarban Hotel at the Karwan Bazar intersection. As of 4pm, police dispersed all protesters from the areas and remained deployed there.
On this matter, Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ibne Mizan said the mobile phone traders were blocking the Karwan Bazar intersection, causing inconvenience to the public.
"Even after repeated requests, they did not vacate the road. We then baton-charged them to disperse the crowd. After a while, they returned from various narrow lanes and suddenly threw bricks at our police personnel. We then used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them. The situation is now under our control, and we remain on alert," he added.
He also mentioned that several police officers were injured while dispersing protesters, of whom, 8-10 were detained.
Earlier in the morning, Shamim Mollah said police detained six to seven protesters shortly after the blockade began.
"We will continue the blockade. We will remain on the streets until our demands are met," Shamim said.
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At one point around noon, the traders moved toward Kathalbagan, throwing bricks at the police. When they tried to block the intersection again, authorities responded with waves of water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades, prompting the protesters to retaliate with bricks.
Currently, alongside the police, members of the RAB and the army were at the scene. The protesters held their ground near Basundhara City Shopping Complex.
Around 11:30 am, police baton-charged the crowd to clear the area, but the traders quickly regrouped and resumed the sit-in, once again blocking the roads.
Authorities then used water cannons, baton charges, and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators and restore traffic flow. The blockades caused severe congestion in nearby areas, leaving commuters stuck in gridlocked intersections.
Tejgaon police told the media that traders were attempting to block roads, prompting police action. "Several people have been detained," police said.
Protesters were later seen staging a sit-in near the Sonargaon intersection at around 11:50am, carrying banners and chanting slogans such as, "Fascism has left; why this torture now?", "Give our rights back," and "Withdraw NEIR."
A face-off between protesters and law enforcement personnel deployed in surrounding areas was also reported. By around 12:20pm, traders gathered in front of the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex.
Abdullah Al Mamun, one of the protesters, told Prothom Alo that traders were not opposed to NEIR itself but were seeking reforms.
"We are in favour of NEIR. However, the system needs some reforms. We have informed the authorities of our demands many times, but they are not listening or responding. That is why we started the sit-in on the road today. Why did the police baton-charge us?" he said.
The traders had announced citywide sit-ins a day earlier, demanding the release of those arrested in connection with a recent attack on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building, along with several other demands.
Shamim had said at the time that mobile phone shops across the country would remain closed indefinitely.
The MBCB has long been protesting what it describes as irrational tax rates, barriers imposed by the BTRC, and complexities in mobile phone import policies.
Added to these demands are the withdrawal of cases filed against traders and the release of those arrested during recent protests. Shamim had also said traders would stage sit-ins in the capital along with their family members.
On 1 January, mobile phone traders besieged the BTRC building in the capital while protesting the implementation of NEIR.
They were later dispersed, and several demonstrators were reportedly detained by the army. In connection with the incident, a Dhaka court on Friday rejected the bail pleas of 45 arrested individuals and ordered them to be sent to jail.
