Mobile phone traders stage protest in Karwan Bazar, sound grenades fired

Mobile phone traders again gathered in the capital’s Karwan Bazar with several demands, leading to clashes with police. As tensions escalated, police fired seven sound grenades to disperse the crowd.

The clashes broke out intermittently from around 1:30pm on Sunday, November 4. At one stage, both sides hurled bricks and stones. To control the situation, additional police were deployed, alongside army and RAB personnel.

Earlier, police baton-charged traders who had been blocking the Karwan Bazar intersection as part of a sit-in, forcing them off the road. Water cannons, riot vehicles and sound grenades were also used.

The protest was organised by the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh, demanding the withdrawal of the National Equipment Identity Register ( system and the release of those arrested over the attack on the BTRC building. The organisation also announced an indefinite shutdown of mobile phone shops nationwide.

According to the announcement, traders began their sit-in around 10:30am at the Sarak Bhaban Fountain intersection, disrupting traffic from Bashundhara to Karwan Bazar. Police first dispersed them around 11:30am. A section of the traders returned to the road around noon, prompting further action, including water cannons, baton charges and sound grenades. Several people were detained, and protesters were later pushed into nearby shopping complexes.