Bangladesh
Illegal Mobile Handsets BTRC to block illegal mobile handsets from today
Dhaka, October 1: Illegal mobile phone connections to the network are being disconnected from Friday. This activity has been going on experimentally for the last three months. The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said in a statement on Thursday (September 30) that even if imported illegally, the sets that were on the network of any mobile phone operator in Bangladesh till June 30 will not be shut down. Because, these sets are automatically registered in the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system.
The new sets (which were imported illegally) launched on July 1 will be discontinued from Friday. However, they can be launched by registering.
According to the BTRC, the disconnection of illegal mobile phones was started on a trial basis from July 1. It is planned to be completed within three months. Thursday (September 30) was its last day.
One of the objectives of this program is to ensure receipt and delivery of various government services through registration of each mobile phone by tagging with national identity card and registered SIM card, to ensure government revenue collection by stopping the use of illegally produced and imported mobile phones, to prevent theft and illegal use of used mobile phones. And assisting law enforcement agencies in the interests of national security.
For mobile buyers, the BTRC says that before buying a mobile handset, one has to check the validity of the device.
In addition, BTRC has specially requested that no importer / locally assembling mobile phone handset and manufacturing company should not produce or import illegal handsets. If a seller sells an illegal handset, the price of the handset has to be refunded as per the demand of the buyer. In case of illegal handset production / import / purchase / sale, action will be taken as per Telecommunication Act.
