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“The market depends on multiple factors, including imports, grey market activity, local manufacturing, and assembly. So the discontinuation of the tax reduction may not immediately affect retail prices,” he said.

The NEIR project has been delayed for years. BTRC signed an agreement with Synesis-Radisson-Computer World for the system in November 2020 at a cost of Tk 29 crore, with a trial run beginning in July 2021.

During the trial, authorities found millions of phones in use were unauthorised and that hundreds of feature phones shared identical IMEI numbers -- complications that repeatedly pushed back full enforcement.

Mohammed Mesbah Uddin, chief marketing officer of Fair Group, which is preparing to resume Samsung handset production this year, said NEIR is now critical for local manufacturing. “To protect investors, support local manufacturing, and curb illegal imports, NEIR implementation is no longer optional -- it is necessary,” he said.