Dhaka, Dec. 10 -- The government has informed all stakeholders, including grey market mobile phone traders, that the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR) for mobile handsets will take effect from Dec 16.

Illegally imported phones evading customs duties, however, can continue to be sold until March, after which no unregistered device will be allowed on the network.

In response, members of the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) staged a protest on Wednesday evening, blocking traffic near Pan Pacific Sonargaon crossing in Dhaka.

The announcement followed a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday evening, chaired by Post and Telecommunications Secretary Abdun Naser Khan.

Attendees included MBCB lead...