Govt defers ban on unofficial mobile phone sales by 3 months; protest halted

The government has decided to allow unofficial mobile handset traders to regularise their existing stocks by 15 March, extending the provision by three months.

Imports of copied, cloned, stolen, outdated and refurbished handsets would be blocked under the new NEIR system from 16 December in a bid to tackle digital crimes, but the traders can register their existing stock for three more months, said a government press release.

Following the announcement, retail traders lifted their road blockade at Kawran Bazar area around 8:30pm on Wednesday.

Earlier in the evening, the grey-market traders had blocked roads at Kawran Bazar and Kuril protesting the government’s introduction of NEIR system on 16 December, saying it would block all their unsold unauthorised handsets and severely hamper business operations.

They also demanded lower import tariffs under the NEIR system, simplified import procedures, and relaxed vendor enlistment rules.

The press release, sent by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, said the government is working to meet the demands during the three-month grace period offered to the traders.

The trade bodies representing the protesters – the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), and the Bangladesh Mobile Business Community – have voiced strong support for the NEIR rollout on 16 December, and other relevant policy measures following three days of talks with government officials, the release noted.

The traders can continue importing older phones on the condition they pre-notify the Posts and Telecommunication Division in this regard, it said.

The traders will have to mention in writing the models of the phones to be imported and their manufacturing dates.

The Commerce Ministry is also holding talks with the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) on reducing the 57% import tariffs under the NEIR system, the press release said, adding the Posts and Telecommunications Division is mediating the talks.

In light of these developments, the ministry called on traders to avoid all ill-attempts that disrupt law and order in the country.