Sales of mobile phones resumed across major retail hubs on Sunday as customers returned in large numbers following a three-week shutdown.
From Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in Panthapath to Motaleb Plaza and Eastern Plaza in Hatirpool, and Jamuna Future Park, markets remained busy throughout the day, with shopkeepers attending to steady streams of customers seeking clarity over handset purchases amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR).
"We reopened on Thursday, but Sunday is when business really restarted," said Rafiqul Islam, a retailer at Bashundhara City. "After two holidays, people came in large numbers. Many are buying, many are just asking questions."
Mobile phone traders across the country resumed operations following a High Court rule seeking to suspend the NEIR system for one month, as well as political assurances given by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman during a meeting with representatives of the Mobile Phone Business Community of Bangladesh (MBCB).
Despite reopening their shops, traders stressed that their protest against the NEIR system -- launched by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on January 1 -- has not been withdrawn.
As part of the ongoing movement, MBCB-affiliated retailers have continued to refrain from selling officially imported smartphones through general retail outlets.
"Our shops are open, but our protest is not over," said Mahmud Hasan, an MBCB member operating in Hatirpool. "We are not selling official handsets yet. The reopening is temporary, driven by survival."
Brand-owned showrooms, however, were seen selling devices as usual.
Although footfall was high, many customers remained cautious, particularly regarding the future of unofficial smartphones under NEIR.
"I came to buy a phone, but I'm still unsure," said Nazmul Hossain, a university student visiting Motaleb Plaza. "Traders say there's no risk now, but no one can say what will happen after March."
Retailers sought to reassure customers by referring to earlier assurances from Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser on posts, telecommunications and information technology, who said no handset would be disconnected from mobile networks before March 15.
At Motaleb Plaza, a Xiaomi salesperson said unofficial smartphones were being sold without disruption.
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