News Desk :
All types of illegal mobile phone sets will shut off automatically from Friday after sending an SMS of disconnection to the users.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) decided to do so to stop the use of illegally imported mobile phones and ensure the government’s revenue collection, says a press release issued on Thursday.
The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) was launched on 1 July to prevent theft and misuse of mobile phones and to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies for the sake of national security, reads the BTRC press release.
In this regard, the regulatory commission requested citizens to check the legality of the phone sets through sending a message, typing KYD
At the same time, the commission urged importers and local mobile phone handset manufacturers not to produce or sell illegal mobile phones. It also requested the vendors to refrain from selling illegal phone sets.
BTRC Director General Md Shahidul Alam said, “BTRC will send SMS as soon as it detects a new illegal handset connected to a telecom network. If the users do not register the handset within a specific time, the phone will be blocked.”
He also said people coming from abroad can bring a maximum of eight phone sets.
According to the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association (BMBA), there are around 30 million illegal phone sets in the country, and the number is increasing gradually.
From a legal importer, the government gets Tk3,000 against each device in the form of import duties. But the government loses the revenue when a mobile handset is sold or purchased illegally.
