Staff Reporter :
The High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the introduction of the biometric SIM registration system.
An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq passed the order on Tuesday. The HC also asked the mobile phone operators to strictly follow directions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in the SIM registration process.
Additional Attorney General Murad Reza, Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raquib and Barrister Sayed Mahsib Hossain were present in the court on behalf of the government.
Murad Reza said that the court gave its verdict after disposing of a petition challenging the legality of the ongoing registration of SIM (subscriber identity module) and RUIM (Removable User Identity Module) with biometric details is legal. The HC also ordered the use of strong passwords for the safe preservation of fingerprints taken in this purpose, he added.
The Additional Attorney General also said that with the High Court order, there is no legal bar to the continuation of the SIM/RUIM registration through the biometric process.
The SIM and RUIM registration through the biometric system formally began on December 16 in 2015, which is supposed to end by April. The government’s move drew skepticism among customers about misuse of the information collected during registration.
On March 9, SM Enamul Haque, a lawyer, filed the writ petition challenging the legality of the SIM/RUIM registration through the biometric process, apprehending that the citizens’ privacy and neutrality would be violated in the biometric system.
On March 14, the High Court issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain as to why the biometric SIM and RUIM’s registration should not be declared illegal. The Home, Law and Telecommunications Secretaries, BTRC Chairman, and mobile phone operators — Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, Airtel, Citycell and Teletalk — were asked to submit their explanations within two weeks.
On April 10, the HC fixed April 12 (yesterday) for delivering its verdict on the writ petition.
Telecom State Minister Tarana Halim has repeatedly advised the to register respective SIMs in this process by April 30, otherwise, she warned, mobile connection would be terminated.
SIM cards are no longer being sold without the buyer’s fingerprints, while the re-registration of existing SIM card owners by recording their fingerprints is set to continue until April. The SIM re-registration process is aimed at controlling crime committed using SIM cards registered under false names.
Except Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd, the owners of five mobile operators are foreigners. So, there is a high risk of leaking out the collected information by them and it can cause a great loss to the people and the country.
The High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the introduction of the biometric SIM registration system.
An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq passed the order on Tuesday. The HC also asked the mobile phone operators to strictly follow directions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in the SIM registration process.
Additional Attorney General Murad Reza, Barrister Khandaker Reza-e-Raquib and Barrister Sayed Mahsib Hossain were present in the court on behalf of the government.
Murad Reza said that the court gave its verdict after disposing of a petition challenging the legality of the ongoing registration of SIM (subscriber identity module) and RUIM (Removable User Identity Module) with biometric details is legal. The HC also ordered the use of strong passwords for the safe preservation of fingerprints taken in this purpose, he added.
The Additional Attorney General also said that with the High Court order, there is no legal bar to the continuation of the SIM/RUIM registration through the biometric process.
The SIM and RUIM registration through the biometric system formally began on December 16 in 2015, which is supposed to end by April. The government’s move drew skepticism among customers about misuse of the information collected during registration.
On March 9, SM Enamul Haque, a lawyer, filed the writ petition challenging the legality of the SIM/RUIM registration through the biometric process, apprehending that the citizens’ privacy and neutrality would be violated in the biometric system.
On March 14, the High Court issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain as to why the biometric SIM and RUIM’s registration should not be declared illegal. The Home, Law and Telecommunications Secretaries, BTRC Chairman, and mobile phone operators — Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, Airtel, Citycell and Teletalk — were asked to submit their explanations within two weeks.
On April 10, the HC fixed April 12 (yesterday) for delivering its verdict on the writ petition.
Telecom State Minister Tarana Halim has repeatedly advised the to register respective SIMs in this process by April 30, otherwise, she warned, mobile connection would be terminated.
SIM cards are no longer being sold without the buyer’s fingerprints, while the re-registration of existing SIM card owners by recording their fingerprints is set to continue until April. The SIM re-registration process is aimed at controlling crime committed using SIM cards registered under false names.
Except Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd, the owners of five mobile operators are foreigners. So, there is a high risk of leaking out the collected information by them and it can cause a great loss to the people and the country.
