BTRC Vandalism: 9 Key Accused Including President Aslam and Secretary Piyas Still Evading Arrest
The recent unrest at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters has brought the government’s National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) policy into sharp focus, as law enforcement agencies intensify their hunt for the top leadership of the Mobile Service Community. While 45 individuals have already been sent to prison by a Dhaka court, the investigation is now pivoting toward the nine high-ranking executive members who allegedly orchestrated the violent protest against the mandatory registration of mobile handsets.
The NEIR system, designed to curb the use of counterfeit and smuggled devices, has faced stiff resistance from a section of the mobile servicing and trading community. According to industry insiders, the policy aims to synchronize Every International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number with the user's National ID (NID) and biometric data. While the BTRC maintains that this is essential for national security and reducing handset theft, the protesters argue that the system creates undue hurdles for the secondary market and independent repair services.
The fugitives currently evading arrest include the Mobile Service Community’s President Aslam, Vice President Shamim Molla, and Secretary Abu Sayeed Piyas. Other executive members named in the First Information Report (FIR) are Md. Ehsan, Humayun Kabir, Md. Arif, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Md. Shuvo, and Md. Foysal Azad. Police sources indicate that several raids were conducted across the capital late Friday night, but the suspects remain at large. "We are analyzing digital evidence and statements from the 45 arrestees to pinpoint the locations of the remaining accused," a senior official of the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station stated, adding that the charges under the Special Powers Act, 1974, carry significant legal weight due to the damage caused to state property.
The violence, which resulted in the destruction of the BTRC’s glass facade and a staff vehicle, has prompted the regulator to reconsider its communication strategy regarding the NEIR rollout. Legal experts suggest that the denial of bail for the 45 detainees—ranging from teenagers to middle-aged men—reflects the court's stern view on vandalism targeting vital state institutions. As the investigation continues, the BTRC is expected to issue further clarifications on how the NEIR policy will impact the general public and whether any concessions will be made for the mobile service sector to prevent further escalations.
List of Incarcerated Individuals
The 45 individuals sent to jail are: Md. Shahjahan (32), Apurba Islam (22), Shariful Islam Niloy (19), Zahid Hasan Hridoy (25), Shahed Bhuiyan (20), Bulbul Ahmed (26), Dipak Hazra (26), Manna Hossain (25), Yeasin Arafat Ornob (25), Ashraf Uddin (30), Md. Shah Jalal (28), Md. Shahin (21), Md. Naim (21), Saidur Rahman (19), Imtiaz Ahmed Hridoy (21), Md. Ramzan (19), Md. Sabbir Hossain (24), Tarikul Islam Rifat (19), Moin Hossain Rajon (22), Anik Hossain (27), Md. Tarikul Islam (24), Md. Rifat Hossain (23), Md. Hanif Mia (25), Md. Shahadat Hossain Rabbi (32), Md. Sohanul Haque (24), Md. Tarek Aziz (28), Md. Sajjad Islam (19), Md. Shipon (23), Ejaj Hossain Siam (24), Md. Unayes Imran (24), Md. Monib Akter (25), Md. Hariz (28), Sabbir Hossain Bijoy (22), S.M. Motiur Rahman (48), Rajon Sheikh (31), Md. Abu Sadik Rakib (29), Mamun Bepari (24), Mojibur Rahman (32), Md. Salah Uddin Bepari (40), Aminul Islam Naim (25), Rakibul Hasan Rakib (23), Abdullah Sabuj (31), Delwar Hossain (38), and Syed Ahmed Shuvo (26).
DBTech/JNU/EK
