BTRC Vandalism Case Filed, Loss Estimated at Tk 20.1 Million: 45 out of 55 Sent to Jail
Authorities have estimated losses of Tk 20.1 million following the attack and vandalism at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building. A case was filed on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, naming 54 individuals and accusing an additional 500 to 600 unidentified persons in connection with the incident.
Investigating officer Md Shamsuzzoha Sarkar said that 45 detainees were produced before a court in the morning and sent to jail custody. The case was filed by Muhammad Ashrafuzzaman Jahed, Assistant Director of BTRC’s Legal and Licensing Division.
According to the first information report (FIR), the accused have been charged with vandalising key state installations and vehicles with the intent to disrupt public order, spread fear among citizens, carry out destructive activities, and plan acts of sabotage.
The FIR states that on Thursday (January 1), at around 3:30 pm, protesters gathered in front of the BTRC building in the Agargaon area and resumed demonstrations with slogans. At one stage, the protesters allegedly became violent and, following a premeditated plan, vandalised several parts of the BTRC building, including its glass walls. A 51-seat air-conditioned staff bus (Dhaka Metro-B-15-7035) parked in front of the building was also damaged. Combined losses to the building and vehicle have been estimated at Tk 20.1 million.
The case further notes that a section of mobile phone traders had been opposing the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system aimed at controlling illegal mobile handsets. Although several meetings were held with the BTRC chairman, the system was officially launched on January 1 as per the final decision. In protest, demonstrators allegedly blocked roads in the Agargaon area, creating panic among commission officials and the general public. As the situation turned violent, law enforcement agencies detained 45 individuals from the scene. During preliminary interrogation, the detainees reportedly disclosed the names of 10 additional absconding suspects.
Meanwhile, protesting the implementation of NEIR and the arrest of their colleagues, the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) has announced an indefinite nationwide shutdown of mobile phone shops and businesses. The organisation said the programme will continue until mobile import duties are reduced, the NOC process is simplified, and the detained traders are released and the case withdrawn.
Notably, the NEIR system was launched on January 1 in line with the government’s earlier announcement to curb illegal and unofficial handsets in the domestic market. Under the system, the IMEI numbers of all mobile phones used on networks in Bangladesh are being linked to a national database.
DBTech/IH/EK/OR
