Bangladesh telecom regulator to launch drive to stop unregistered SIM card sale

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will start a crackdown to stop the sale of mobile phone SIM cards without registration.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 August 2015, 06:02 PM
Updated : 16 August 2015, 06:02 PM

Letters are being sent to the home ministry and deputy commissioners in all districts for conducting drives with the help of security forces.

Tarana Halim, the new state minister for posts and telecommunication, resented the sale of unregistered SIM cards everywhere.

She said the BTRC would launch a seven-day 'crash programme' to this end.

The High Court had ordered immediate deactivation of all unregistered mobile SIM cards last year.

BTRC chairman, the home secretary, posts and telecommunication secretary and CEOs of mobile phone operators were asked to implement the order without delay.
But there are allegations that mobile SIM cards are still being sold without registration across the country, ignoring BTRC guideline.
Some of these SIM cards are believed to be used by criminals as they are not traceable.
In 2011, the BTRC ordered activation of SIM cards only after scrutinising a subscriber's identity.
"We've already prepared a draft letter to send to the home ministry through our ministry so that mobile courts launch drives," Halim said.
The state minister asked the BTRC mobile team to undertake a seven-day crash programme to confiscate SIM cards without registration.
"The deputy commissioners will conduct raids in their respective districts for confiscating illegal SIM cards like in Dhaka," she said.
"Please make sure the offenders are punished by the mobile courts as per law," Halim added.