Dhaka, Dec. 7 -- After daylong protests in Agargaon, mobile phone traders have cleared the roads following assurances from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) that their demands would be discussed with the revenue authorities and other relevant ministries.

The traders had ended their blockade at 8:30pm on Sunday.

They had been demonstrating from 10am, protesting the government's National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR), set to take effect on Dec 16, which will render illegal handsets unable to connect to the country's mobile networks.

Their demands included legal recognition of existing unsold stock, reduction of import duties, and simplification of import procedures.

From the afternoon, the blockade...