A significant traffic disruption hit Agargaon in the capital on Sunday as mobile phone traders blocked the road beneath Agargaon Metro Station, halting the flow of vehicles. The protest began after 11:30 am, with hundreds of traders gathering to press their demands related to import duties and regulatory reforms.
Shamim Molla, senior co-vice president of the Mobile Business Community, confirmed that protest representatives were meeting with officials at the BTRC following an invitation from the Ministry of ICT. He emphasised that the discussions would fail to produce meaningful outcomes if traders’ economic interests were ignored.
The protest is part of a wider campaign by mobile sellers, who had staged a sit-in outside the BTRC building since early morning, demanding the reduction of import duties and other reforms. Police surrounded the building to maintain order and prevent clashes.
Central to the traders’ concerns is the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). They argue that its implementation will benefit only a small group of businesses, causing severe losses to the broader trading community. The additional taxes and administrative burdens, they claim, will inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers, threatening the affordability of mobile devices across the country.
Yesterday, the Mobile Business Community of Bangladesh announced that mobile shops nationwide would close indefinitely, highlighting the seriousness of their grievances. The group demands the removal of mandatory contracts between importers and local manufacturers, fair import duties of 15% for small and medium businesses, and government-led implementation of NEIR rather than financing by private players.
Traders are also calling for flexible conditions for selling unsold mobile stock, the publication of demonstration videos for both vendors and consumers, and at least six months of trial operations prior to NEIR’s official launch. They emphasise that the BTRC’s vendor registration system must be simplified to ensure quick and hassle-free implementation.
As talks between protestors and regulators continue, the standoff in Agargaon reflects the tension between government initiatives and the interests of small businesses. Without swift resolution, further disruptions across the capital and potentially nationwide remain a strong possibility.