Dhaka, Monday, December 08, 2025, 4:35 PM – Mobile traders protest NEIR in Bangladesh launched a fierce siege on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in Dhaka on Sunday, vowing to block the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) implementation set for December 16. Led by the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), around 25,000 traders nationwide rallied against the policy, demanding a one-year delay, tax cuts, and import reforms. The BTRC protest Dhaka snarled traffic for hours, stranding ambulances and patients near three hospitals.
This escalation marks the latest clash in a month-long campaign against NEIR, a system designed to register every mobile handset via its IMEI number. Traders argue the rollout without safeguards will wipe out billions in unsold stock and livelihoods for thousands. The BTRC maintains NEIR curbs illegal imports, boosts revenue, and enhances security. Yet, the standoff highlights deeper tensions in Bangladesh’s mobile market, where grey imports dominate 60% of sales.
In South Asia, where digital access drives economic growth, such disputes threaten connectivity for millions. Bangladesh’s 63% smartphone penetration lags regional peers like India at 70%. NEIR could formalise the sector, but abrupt enforcement risks alienating small traders who sustain affordable access in low-income areas. Success here may influence similar reforms in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, balancing security with market stability.
Mobile Traders Protest NEIR Ignites in Agargaon
Hundreds of mobile traders gathered outside the BTRC office in Agargaon at 10:00 AM on Sunday. They blocked one side of the road, staging a sit-in that halted traffic from Agargaon Mor to the headquarters. Protesters lit fires at four spots, forcing police and army units to deploy for crowd control. By 7:15 PM, traders cleared part of the road but held firm in front of the building.
The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) spearheaded the action. MBCB President Md Aslam addressed reporters after an evening meeting with BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdadul Bari. “We requested a one-year delay in NEIR implementation,” Aslam said. “The commission has yet to respond. Therefore, the protest will continue until a solution is found.”
No physical clashes occurred. One demonstrator used a hand microphone to urge calm: “We see nothing. We hear nothing. Let everyone say what they want. Do not engage in any physical fights with anyone.”
Traffic chaos rippled across central Dhaka. Ambulances struggled to reach the National Institute of Neurosciences, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Neurogenetics, and the National Institute of Child Health. Thousands of commuters faced delays, with jams stretching to Kawran Bazar.
MBCB leaders alerted 25,000 traders nationwide to mobilise. “We will continue the protest until our demands are met,” an MBCB spokesperson stated. “All mobile traders nationwide have been alerted to join the movement together.” This follows a November 30 nationwide shop shutdown and human chain in Kawran Bazar, where traders decried the policy as a threat to 20,000 businesses.
MBCB Demands: Core of the BTRC Protest Dhaka
The MBCB demands centre on easing NEIR implementation Bangladesh. Traders hold about 5 million untaxed handsets, per BTRC data. They seek a one-time amnesty to legalise these by paying reduced customs duties. Current rates stand at 58%, which they want slashed to 15%. Simplifying import procedures ranks high too, ending what they call syndicate controls by local manufacturers.
“Under the current NEIR framework, legal handset imports would become impossible, regardless of whether the duty is 57% or reduced to zero,” MBCB Senior Vice-President Shamim Molla said in a prior statement. Traders also push for automatic registration on bill of entry submission and a multi-ministry oversight for NEIR.
These MBCB demands echo broader grievances. Illegal imports evade Tk 2,000 crore (BDT 2,000 million) in annual revenue, per National Board of Revenue estimates cited by BTRC. Yet, high duties fuel the grey market, keeping phones affordable amid 63% penetration. MBCB argues NEIR rollout without reforms will spike prices and shutter shops.
In a November 29 press release, MBCB called for dialogue, fair taxes, and open imports. “Traders are calling for an overhaul of the NEIR system, an end to alleged monopolistic syndicate practices, a fair and consistent tax policy, and permission for open import of mobile phones,” the release stated. Protests intensified after the release of MBCB Secretary Piash from custody on November 19, amid claims of harassment.
NEIR Implementation Bangladesh: Official Stance and Data
The BTRC defends NEIR as essential for security and revenue. “NEIR compares a phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) against the national database,” Chairman Md Emdadul Bari explained in a November statement. The system blocks unregistered, duplicate-IMEI, or fake devices from networks post-December 16.
Active handsets before launch stay connected automatically. Foreign-bought or gifted phones get 30 days for special registration via the NEIR portal at neir.btrc.gov.bd. BTRC data shows NEIR will tag IMEIs with National ID numbers, curbing fraud in mobile financial services and stolen phone trade.
Government sources outline relief measures. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced on December 1 that illegal but IMEI-registered handsets can legalise at reduced duties before December 16. A meeting with the National Board of Revenue approved significant cuts to the 61% import duty, alongside VAT reductions for local production in 13-14 factories.
BTRC’s official project summary emphasises accountability: “NEIR has been deployed to ensure the accountability of every mobile handset used within the territory of Bangladesh along with its user authentication.” Users can verify devices now by dialling *16001#.
Local manufacturers back the push. The Mobile Phone Industry Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (MIOB) states NEIR ends grey dominance, aiding compliant firms. “Implementation of NEIR will bring order to a market long plagued by illegal handsets,” MIOB said in a November statement.
Critics note past failures. A 2020 NEIR attempt under the prior government stalled. Current rollout partners with domestic producers, funded partly by them.
Background: Rising Tensions Over NEIR
NEIR traces to 2020, when BTRC tendered for installation to combat fake handsets. Delayed by politics, it revives now amid 4G rollout and digital economy goals. Bangladesh loses Tk 2,000 crore yearly to evasions, per BTRC letters to NBR.
Traders’ resistance builds on November actions. A November 22 shop closure protested detentions and NEIR. Human chains decried monopolies, where brands limit imports to local assemblers. MBCB claims 70% of sales rely on grey channels for affordability.
BTRC counters with incentives. It recommended duty cuts to NBR, recognising high taxes drive illegality. Yet, no formal MBCB dialogue occurred until Sunday’s meeting, yielding no assurances.
The protest’s scale—25,000 alerted—signals nationwide impact. Dhaka’s Agargaon siege follows blockades at intersections, with warnings of more shutdowns.
What’s Next: Path Forward for Mobile Traders Protest NEIR
BTRC Chairman Bari pledged to escalate MBCB demands to senior officials. Traders vow escalation if unmet, including full shutdowns. With nine days to launch, negotiations could avert wider chaos.
A resolution balancing security and commerce remains key. As one trader noted, “NEIR may save revenue, but without reforms, it kills the market we built.”
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 8th, 2025
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