Mobile Traders Announce Nationwide Shutdown Demanding NEIR Reform

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), an association of smartphone and gadget traders, has announced that all mobile phone shops across Dhaka and the rest of the country will remain closed on Sunday, 30 November, demanding reforms to the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR).

The information was disclosed in an urgent notice sent on Saturday night by Mizanur Rahman Sohel on behalf of MBCB.

According to the statement, “A peaceful human chain will be held tomorrow, Sunday at 10:00 am, in the Karwan Bazar–Panthapath area of the capital, demanding an end to monopolistic syndicate policies, a fair taxation system, and permission for open import of mobile phones.”

Notably, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to implement NEIR from 16 December. Earlier, in protest of this initiative, the business community had already observed a one-day nationwide closure of mobile phone shops following a press conference.

DBTech/MR/EK/OR