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. “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. “I have no personal relationship with any mobile phone manufacturer.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 04, 2026 09:42 UTC