Bangladesh is preparing to ban mobile phones for children under 16 to protect them from exposure to radiation that could damage their brains.
Mobile phone companies have lashed out at the proposal, saying there is no scientific basis for the measure.
The Environment Minister has outlined the plan to a conference of doctors and scientists in the capital Dhaka.
Experts are preparing regulations to stop companies from selling mobile phones to children. Families will be encouraged to keep them away from children.
"There is no scientific evidence that mobile phones are bad for health," said Mr een Bakth, a spokesman for GrameenPhone, the largest of the country’s four mobile phone companies.
Mr Bakth said his company has been assured by manufacturers that mobile phone handsets "pose no health hazard".
AP