A protest by mobile phone traders against the implementation of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) escalated into clashes with police in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, as law enforcers used water cannons, baton charges and sound grenades to clear a key intersection and restore traffic movement.
The blockade began in the morning when mobile phone traders gathered at the Karwan Bazar intersection, halting vehicular movement and causing widespread disruption in the area. The traders were protesting the rollout of the NEIR system, which they claim would adversely affect their businesses.
Around noon, police moved in to remove the protesters from the road, triggering a brief chase and counter-chase between law enforcers and demonstrators.
Police initially deployed water cannons before resorting to baton charges and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were detained, while others scattered into nearby alleys.
Tejgaon police said the traders were attempting to enforce an illegal road blockade, resulting in severe public inconvenience.
“Police intervention was necessary to restore traffic flow and maintain public order,” a police official told reporters.
The incident unfolded amid heightened tensions between sections of mobile phone traders and the government following a recent attack on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters, allegedly carried out by protesters opposing the NEIR system.
Nearly 50 people have been arrested so far in connection with the attack.
Against this backdrop, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on violence linked to regulatory enforcement.
Speaking to journalists after visiting the BTRC headquarters on Sunday, Faiz said violence, vandalism and attacks on state institutions in the name of protest were unacceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“The government has already responded to the demands of mobile phone traders by significantly reducing duties on legally imported handsets and providing an opportunity to regularise devices brought in through tax evasion,” he said.
“Despite these measures, shutting down shops and blocking roads to create disorder cannot be justified. This essentially amounts to seeking legitimacy for illegal activities,” he added.
Referring specifically to the attack on the BTRC building, Faiz said the incident occurred even after import duties had been reduced to encourage lawful business practices. “Those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice,” he said, warning that the government would take stricter measures if such actions continued.
Addressing criticism of the NEIR system itself, Faiz said the initiative was aimed at curbing the circulation of illegal and counterfeit mobile phones and strengthening regulatory oversight in the telecom sector.
He acknowledged that the system initially faced technical challenges but said those issues had since been resolved.
He also rejected allegations of any personal or professional links with handset manufacturers, describing such claims as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at undermining the reform initiative.
“I have no personal relationship with any mobile phone manufacturer. These allegations are baseless and intended to mislead,” he said.
The NEIR system, once fully implemented, is expected to bring greater transparency to the mobile handset market, curb tax evasion and protect consumers from counterfeit and cloned devices, according to the authorities.
