Bangladesh to impose tighter screening on imported mobile phones for terror-related content, apps

Bangladesh authorities have decided to step up screenings of mobile phones for objectionable terror-triggering contents and apps prior to their import.

A senior BTRC official told bdnews24.com on condition of anonimity that from now on, a much stringent checking of the content would be done before mobile phones are cleared for import.

According to BTRC rules, a cell phone must obtain International Mobile Equipment Idenity (IMEI) number after submission of the sample mobile to the BTRC, which checks the built-in contents and apps.

So far, the checks have been limited only to ensuring if the Bangla keypads work and if the mobile phone is compatible with Bangla language settings, the official conceded.

He also admitted that the checks so far have been rather linient.

But all that is going to change as the government is determined to stop terror-inspiring content from reaching the country’s shores.

Controversial Indian televangelist Zakir Naik’s ‘Peace Mobile’ phone were banned from being imported last week.

Beximco Group imports Naik's mobile phones marketed as "Islamic mobile handsets".  The website of the brand says that the phone comes pre-loaded with options to access his Peace TV sermons in English, Hindi and Urdu.

The handset also comes packed with Islamic wallpapers, access to the Quran and reminders about prayer timings and other miscellaneous things.

Naik has vexed Bangladesh authorities after his speeches were found to have inspired terrorists involved in the July 1 Dhaka cafe massacre in which 22 people were killed.

The authorities in Bangladesh fear that mobile-phone contents and apps could be used to provoke terror or radicalise young minds.

The BTRC official said that the checks would now be much stricter.

He added that if any mobile brand with objectionable content or apps is found hoodwinking the government, it will be banned and action taken against its makers and importers.

About 108 importers bring 91 brands of cell phones.

As many as 2.6 million mobile phones were imported in 2014 and the figure in 2015 was 2.7 million.

Bangladesh Mobile Phones Importers’ Association General Secretary Rezwanul Hoque told bdnews24.com, “We are always alert that mobile phones imported from outside do not contain objectionable content or apps.”