Journalist Mizanur Rahman Sohail was taken for questioning by the Detective Police (DB) on Tuesday midnight. He was delivered home again in the morning. Faiz Ahmad Tayyab, the special assistant in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, protested the allegations of his involvement in this incident. At the same time, he said, the organization in the name of ‘Mobile Business Community Bangladesh’, which was supposed to organize the press conference, is a bogus organization. Faiz Ahmad Tayyab questioned the motives of the people involved in this organization.
Journalist Mizanur Rahman Sohail told Ajker newspaper that a press conference about NEIR (National Equipment Identity Register) of Bangladesh Mobile Business Community was supposed to be held at 12 noon today. He was the consultant of this organization.
Faiz Ahmad Tayyab protested in detail in a Facebook post about this. Below is his exact post:
Since this morning, misinformation has been going on on social media involving me in the DB interrogation of a journalist. First of all I say clearly and emphatically that I had no role in the detention or interrogation of that journalist. This allegation is completely false, baseless and ulterior motives.
Now the context of why such a campaign is being launched all of a sudden needs to be clarified.
BTRC recently announced the launch of NEIR to curb illegal mobile phone importation, smuggling, theft, fraud and duty evasion. Investors who legally manufacture phones in Bangladesh have been seeking this initiative for a long time. Today almost all major global brands except Apple have factories in the country.
Immediately after the announcement of NEIR, syndicates of illegal importers and smugglers started protesting with foreigners in various markets, attacking domestic brand showrooms, threatening employees. They are also spreading a lot of misinformation about NEIR.
Let me make one thing clear—the mobile phone you are currently using—whether legally purchased, illegally purchased, or imported—none of them will be stopped. Fears that the running handset you are using will stop—are completely misplaced.
Only new handsets smuggled into the country through illegal importers will not work on Bangladesh networks from December 16 onwards. Apart from this, no normal user’s phone will be turned off. You can check whether the handset you bought is valid or invalid by just sending an SMS from the showroom
Another thing – anyone can bring an extra mobile phone in addition to their own mobile phone when traveling abroad.
If some representatives of this circle wanted to meet me last week, I made two very clear conditions—
1. Attacks, shutdowns and threats to the showrooms of domestic manufacturers must stop.
2. All activities against NEIR should be stopped.
I also said, if they comply with these two conditions, I will consider writing to NBR to reduce the import duty on legitimate phones. They are no longer in contact
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Then came a press conference invitation letter to journalists yesterday—titled “Addressing Regarding NEIR Implementation”—in which a man named Mohammad Aslam claimed to be the president of an organization called “Mobile Business Community Bangladesh”. But this organization is not registered with DoT of Ministry of Commerce. It is clearly understood that illegal importers are creating a new organization in the name of Bhuiphond and are campaigning against NEIR. At least half a dozen people confirmed to me some time ago that Aslam’s phone number is given by the journalist. And that journalist himself sent that press invitation to the journalists.
In this situation an important question arises:
How does a journalist hold a press conference on behalf of a smuggling-accused group using fake titles, fake identities and his own phone number as the “president” of a bogus organization?
How can a journalist act as a spokesperson, PR agent, consultant or beneficiary of smuggling businesses? Does it fall within the ethics of journalism?
So, no one is above the law. A man of any profession—if he steps outside the ethical bounds and joins an illegal circle—is bound to face questioning by law enforcement agencies.
But I think such steps are best taken during the day, transparently and create an atmosphere of certainty for all.
And, I beg you all – be careful not to listen to the baseless allegations that the gang of illegal importers are trying to create confusion. The main issue is—illegal phone importers are running a disinformation campaign to stop NEIR and harm legitimate investors. That is why they are spending a lot of money. So you will see lies spreading on social media about me.
Footnote: I personally want NBR to review the mobile import duty and local manufacturing tax structure rationally, so that handset prices come down further for common consumers. We have already raised this issue in BTRC meeting and informed NBR Chairman.
