BTRC Meets Unofficial Smartphone Retailers Before Implementing NEIR
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has held a meeting with unofficial smartphone retailers as part of its multi-stakeholder consultation process prior to implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system. The meeting was chaired by Brigadier General Aminul Haque, Director General of BTRC’s Spectrum Division, at the Commission’s headquarters in Agargaon on Monday, November 10.
More than fifty representatives from the smartphone retail community participated in the meeting, including Mohammed Aslam, President of the Mobile Business Community and proprietor of Gadget Orbit; General Secretary Abu Sayeed Pias, owner of Sumastech; Senior Vice President Shamim Molla, owner of Molla Telecom; and Vice President (Motaleb Plaza Branch) Mohammed Pintu of Onik Telecom.
From the BTRC side, Director General Brig. Gen. Aminul Haque was joined by Director Noorunnabi, Deputy Director Mehfuz Bin Khaled, Deputy Director Ahsanul Habib Mithun, and other officers of the Spectrum Division.
According to meeting sources, the discussion continued for over an hour during which retailers presented a five-point set of demands. Their proposals included allowing all mobile phone traders to import devices legally upon paying applicable duties, with assurance from manufacturing brands that no future obstacles will be placed in their import process.
Retailers also requested that BTRC whitelist the IMEI numbers of imported smartphones upon submission of the ‘Bill of Entry’, without requiring approval from any syndicate. Additionally, they urged that manufacturers should not expand into exclusive retail operations in a manner that harms existing small retailers. They further asked for a one-year grace period before any handset is blacklisted, considering recent economic and political challenges that have already strained the business environment. Finally, they called for the withdrawal of discriminatory retail pricing practices by local assemblers.
However, the Mobile Business Community president, Mohammed Aslam, stated after the meeting that no positive response was received regarding their key demands and that the traders plan to engage with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on the issue soon.
According to him, the current tax structure makes it “impossible for small traders to survive.” Since 2017, certain foreign companies have been assembling smartphones in Bangladesh and are able to sell devices at lower prices due to reduced duties. By contrast, traders importing branded smartphones legally—such as iPhones—are required to pay up to 57% cumulative tax, pushing the retail price of a handset valued at Tk 2,00,000 to nearly Tk 3,14,000 after taxes, he said.
Retailers expressed concern that once the NEIR system takes effect, only 8 to 10 companies with established service networks will be able to maintain a dominant position in the market. They fear that 95% of small retailers—who collectively drive the sector—will lose their businesses.
BTRC has announced that smartphone registration under NEIR will become mandatory from December 16. The system aims to prevent unofficial and undeclared smartphone imports and sales in Bangladesh.
DBTech/PRABA/IK/OR
