MIOB said NEIR would help identify and block illegal, counterfeit, and stolen mobile phones

Officially, NEIR is described as a regulatory system, not a surveillance mechanism

Protesters demanding changes to NEIR implementation removed using water cannon, sound grenades

Many mobile phone users were unable to connect their handsets to mobile networks yesterday

Bangladesh is preparing to reduce taxes on legally imported mobile phones as part of a broader effort to stabilise handset prices and strengthen regulation ahead of the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on December 16.