TDS Desk:

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) on Sunday urged the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to delay the rollout of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system by six months to one year.

After a meeting with the BTRC chairman, MBCB President Md Aslam said the chairman assured them that he would place their demands before senior government officials at a meeting scheduled for 6pm today and announce the next steps afterwards.

MBCB leaders also said they would continue their protests in front of the BTRC building until the meeting ends.

Earlier in the day, mobile phone traders staged a sit-in in front of the BTRC building, while another group blocked the Agargaon intersection, disrupting traffic.

The demonstrators are demanding reforms to the NEIR system and the allowance of unrestricted imports of mobile phones.

The NEIR system, scheduled to come into effect on December 16, is designed to identify and block stolen or unauthorised mobile phones using International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers — a unique 15-digit code assigned to each device.

Protesters alleged that the rollout of the NEIR system would negatively affect hundreds of thousands of traders and their families across the country.

They also claimed the policy would benefit a specific group of businesses, while additional taxes and restrictions would increase mobile phone prices for consumers.