If any user fails to re-register their mobile phone SIM cards in seven days of receiving a text message from operators concerned, they will face permanent blocking of their SIMs, according to a new directive by telecommunications division.
As per the directive, the SIMs found registered with fake NID would also be blocked.
If anyone has more than one SIMs, all of them must be registered separately with the respective operators.
The operators will keep database of distributors and retailers so the regulator can conduct additional verification of the documents submitted.
Besides, all operators must launch a campaign programme to raise awareness about SIM re-registration among the subscribers.
Ekram Kabir, vice president of Robi Axiata Ltd, said they were working in line with the government directives.
To expedite the SIM re-registration programme, mobile operators have started sending their clients’ data to the Election Commission as part of the government’s plan to prepare a subscribers’ database to rein in mobile phone crimes.
The Election Commission approved the signing of agreement with all mobile operators to provide them with NID access to make sure that their SIMs have been duly registered.
According to the latest BTRC statistics, there are 128.7m active mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh. To get NID access each mobile operator will have to pay TK5 lakh as fees.
The EC secretary said Banglalink, Airtel and Citycell already applied for NID access to check out their SIMs.
The decision about the SIM re-registration was made on September 6 at a meeting of the telecommunication division with BTRC, BTCL, state-owned operator Teletalk and security agencies.
