The government has extended the deadline for registering unlisted mobile handsets to 15 March 2026, just days before the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) is set to launch on 16 December 2025.
The decision came on Wednesday after three days of negotiations with mobile traders, who argued that they needed more time to register the large volume of unlisted devices circulating in the market.
NEIR is being introduced to curb the entry of smuggled, cloned, refurbished and foreign used phones, prevent handset snatching and online fraud, and stop tax evasion by ensuring that only legally compliant devices connect to mobile networks.
Users were initially instructed to register all unlisted phones before 16 December, but the revised timeline now gives an additional three months for compliance.
The Department of Posts and Telecommunications said mobile phone imports remain unrestricted. It will inform the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant authorities about which older models and categories may be imported, although importers must officially notify the government before bringing devices into the country.
All parties have been asked to submit written feedback to the department by Thursday.
Discussions with the National Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Commerce on revising mobile phone import duties are under way, with the Department of Posts and Telecommunications mediating between traders, importers and manufacturers. Industry groups have said they will jointly submit written proposals to the government.
The department urged all stakeholders not to undermine law and order during the transition period. It said leaders of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh and representatives of the business community have expressed support for the NEIR launch on 16 December.
On Wednesday evening, however, protests erupted in Karwan Bazar, where handset traders took to the streets, set fire to objects and demanded the resignation of Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb.
Informal, illegal and used phones have long dominated the local market, accounting for nearly sixty per cent of devices in use. Once NEIR becomes operational, only phones registered and listed with the regulatory authority will be able to connect to mobile networks.
Traders holding large informal stocks fear heavy losses and have been demanding policy adjustments and extended transition time — prompting the government’s latest deadline extension.
