FE Report
The Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB) has expressed concern that the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) could again be shut down through corruption if a new political government comes to power.
However, it says the initiative is being implemented in the national interest, not for the benefit of any individual.
"There is speculation that the process could again be halted through corruption if a political government comes to power. But I do not believe a new government will stop a good initiative through corrupt means," said MIOB President Jakaria Shahid while addressing a press conference at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
Xiaomi Bangladesh Country Head Ziauddin Chowdhury presented the keynote at the event.
Shahid said the NEIR project was launched in 2021 but was halted through corrupt practices during the term of the last "fascist" government.
He said protesters were now attempting to suspend the initiative.
Traders had already been given ample time, he said, questioning why deadline extensions were being sought.
At the event, manufacturers played a recorded phone call of the protest organisers.
However, when this correspondent questioned the legality of recording and publicly playing the phone call, Shahid offered an apology.
He said, "Mobile phone and memory prices have increased globally. The assumption that prices have risen due to the introduction of NEIR is completely wrong."
Replying to another question from this correspondent, he said the prices of locally manufactured handsets would be gradually reduced if production costs declined.
The MIOB alleged that mobile phone traders protesting against the NEIR initiative were spreading various types of propaganda.
It said most of the information presented by the protesters was incorrect and misleading.
The protesting traders claimed 20,000 shops were involved in the trade of "unofficial" phones, but the MIOB said it was completely false.
It said around 90 per cent of those participating in the protests were retailers of locally produced phones.
"In reality, only about 1,000 to 1,500 traders are fully involved in selling cloned or illegal handsets," said Ziauddin.
Referring to protesters' claim that the market for used mobile phones would disappear if the NEIR system was implemented, he said this was entirely false.
He also asserted that there was no such thing as "unofficial handsets" anywhere in the world.
Rejecting the allegations of operating a "mobile syndicate," he said the MIOB members ensured their own protection by producing phones legally and importing manufacturing equipment through proper channels.
This, he said, was natural and justified.
He added that they always supported lawful systems and that there was no scope for forming any syndicate among the members.
Meanwhile, the association said NEIR must be implemented to strengthen transparency in the mobile phone industry, ensure consumer protection, and build a secure digital environment.
The MIOB also said the government's decision to implement the NEIR system from January 1, along with reducing smartphone import duties to encourage legal imports and maintain market discipline, was timely and positive.
According to it, these policy measures will help reduce long-standing irregularities in the industry and establish an orderly market system.
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