After drive against the sale of illegal mobile-phone SIM cards, the government is hotfooting to make sure there is no SIM left unregistered.
Published : 09 Sep 2015, 02:45 AM
Bangladesh makes SIM re-registration compulsory
Only unregistered mobile phone SIM cards will have to be registered: BTRC
Besides the instructions to stop illegal SIMs, the provision to fine the operators for unregistered SIMs will also be restored.
The government has decided to act tough against illegal SIMs in the wake of rise in crimes through mobile phones.
Minister of State for Posts and Telecommunications Division Tarana Halim has made it clear that no excuse would be accepted in these cases.
She told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that her division had written to telecoms regulator BTRC to take step for re-registration of all SIMs.
On Monday, outgoing BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose said re-registration would not be needed for properly registered SIMs.
She said her ministry planned to kick off the process this month after a meeting with mobile-phone operators.
SIM re-registration process had been ongoing for the last three months but even those who registered their SIMs properly will be included in the process, she added.
“Those who have properly registered their SIMs recently will have to re-register,” the minister said.
“I believe the people will assist us for combating militancy and ending extortion,” she added.
The High Court earlier ordered the operators last year to switch off all unregistered SIM cards.
In its letter, the Posts and Telecommunications Division asked the BTRC to inform subscribers through SMS to register their unregistered or registered SIMs between Sept 10 and Dec 10.
Otherwise, the SIM cards will be deactivated, it added.
The minister said the BTRC was asked to take steps to give the operators access to national identity card (NID) server.
“The operators will be able to close unregistered SIMs cross-checking information once they get the opportunity,” she said.
Halim also said the operators would be informed about the decision to fine them by post.
The law to fine them $50 for each unregistered SIM will be effective after the Election Commission signs the deal to give them access to the NID server.
The decision was not executed in three years.
There are allegations that the operators are not eager to register SIMs and try to pass the blame for the sale of unregistered SIMs onto the retailers.
There were 128.7 million mobile-phone subscribers in Bangladesh until July, BTRC data showed.