The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association, Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), has announced that all mobile phone retail shops across the country will remain closed starting today, November 19.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Wednesday.

According to the association, the decision was taken in protest against the arrest of a smartphone and gadget retailer by the Detective Branch (DB) and the restrictions imposed on the mobile market under the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) initiative.

Speakers at the press briefing warned that if the association’s secretary, Pias, is not released by today, they will launch a nationwide protest and take steps that could disrupt normal life across the country.

The arrest occurred late on the night of November 18. The businessman’s wife claimed that DB officials took her husband from their Mirpur-1 residence around 3 a.m., also confiscating his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, the interim government has announced plans to implement the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) from December 16 to curb the use of unregistered smartphones and ensure security in the telecommunications sector. Once activated, the system will block unregistered, stolen, or unauthorized imported phones from operating on the country’s mobile networks.