Ensuring secure, lawful, and accountable use of mobile devices across the country, the Mobile Phone Industry Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (MIOB) today emphasized the national importance of implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). Speaking at a press conference, MIOB highlighted how NEIR is essential to protect consumers, safeguard government revenue, and stabilize Bangladesh’s mobile ecosystem, a press release said.
MIOB stated that Bangladesh’s mobile manufacturing sector has grown into a major contributor to the economy, with 18 active factories, over Tk. 3,000 crore in investment, and more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Despite having a strong production capacity, the industry is unable to fully utilize its capabilities due to the dominance of grey market imports.
The Association warned that the absence of NEIR has allowed the grey market-worth nearly Tk. 6,000 crore-to flourish, causing the government more than Tk. 2,000 crore in annual revenue loss. It also compromises cybersecurity, user safety, and national digital stability. NEIR will ensure that only legal and approved devices operate on mobile networks, eliminating unauthorized phones and restoring a fair business environment.
Addressing public misconceptions, MIOB clarified that the 57% import tax on CBU devices was introduced in 2019 and has not been increased by the current government. The Association added that Bangladesh’s mobile market is highly competitive, with 18 licensed manufacturers, and that allegations of “syndication” are completely baseless.
MIOB reassured that NEIR will not disrupt the pre-owned or refurbished phone market. Any legally listed IMEI can be deregistered and resold without difficulty. The only disruption will be for those who misuse baggage rules or sell used foreign phones as new.
The Association also emphasized that import licensing remains an open and transparent process, while baggage rules allow returning passengers to bring phones easily and legally.
Concluding the briefing, MIOB reiterated that NEIR is a national safeguard-vital for protecting revenue, ensuring digital security, supporting lawful business practices, and enabling Bangladesh to achieve a secure and sustainable mobile ecosystem.
Present at the press conference were MIOB’s General Secretary Zahurul Haque Biplob; Smart Hi-Tech Industries’ Managing Director Zahirul Islam; Xiaomi Bangladesh’s Country Head Ziauddin Chowdhury; Excel Technologies’ Executive Director Saifuddin Tipu; Vivo’s representative Imam Uddin; Selextra’s Managing Director Riazul Islam; and Bangladesh Mobile Phone Distributors Association’s Organizing Secretary Rahul Kapooria.
