'No mobile phones to be blacklisted for 3-month'

A senior police official on Sunday stated that no mobile phones will be blacklisted for the next three months.

Ramna Division Deputy Police Commissioner Masud Alam made the announcement on January 4 after a meeting with representatives of mobile phone traders. 

He said no handset would be blacklisted during the three month period and that all stock held before the system’s launch would be considered valid.

Masud Alam also said manufacturers would offer distributors an additional three to four percent discount so they can sell phones at lower prices than showrooms, helping stabilize the market during the transition.

The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) was initially scheduled to be launched on December 16, Victory Day, but following protests by traders, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission postponed implementation by 15 days and decided to enforce it from January 1.

On January 1, a section of mobile phone traders staged a protest in front of the BTRC office in Dhaka's Agargaon, opposing the NEIR system. The demonstration turned violent when protesters allegedly threw bricks and stones and vandalized the BTRC premises. 

Law enforcement agencies later brought the situation under control and detained several people.

Mobile phone traders have been protesting the NEIR system for several days, arguing it would disrupt their business. 

The BTRC, however, has said that once NEIR is fully implemented, only legally imported and government approved handsets will be allowed to operate on mobile networks in Bangladesh.

According to the regulator, the system will prevent the use of illegally imported phones and shut down the trade of used handsets brought into the country unlawfully. 

The BTRC has also clarified that no phone already in use on the network before the launch of NEIR will be disconnected.

The government alleges that a section of traders has been evading taxes by importing low quality, cloned, used and outdated phones through illegal channels. 

Authorities say the NEIR initiative aims to curb these practices and ensure proper handset registration nationwide.