Dhaka — No worries for Bangladeshi handsets users, who are currently using mobile networks will be automatically registered in the BTRC system on June 30. As a result, these sets are not being banned from July 1, the regulatory body stated that everyone is requested not to be confused in this regard.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) noted this on Thursday (June 17th). It has been learned that BTRC was supposed to start identifying illegal mobile phones from July 1. But some media reports were saying that illegal mobile phones would be shut down from that day.
In this context, the company clarified its stance for mobile users. BTRC Commissioner AKM Shahiduzzaman, said: “there is a demand for about 150 million handsets in Bangladesh at present. 40% of which have entered the market illegally or have been brought from abroad. We are trying to bring in these disciplines.”
He said: It was being done mainly to maintain law and order. And the opportunity will be given to legalizing. The message will go to everyone. No one’s mobile will be switched off. There will be no interruption in the communication system. In case of handsets purchased from abroad, registration can be done by submitting valid documents to BTRC, he affirmed.
According to BTRC sources, these mobile sets that have entered the Bangladesh market illegally at different stages will be identified. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Authority is using the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system for this.
The BTRC will use this type of technology for the first time in the country. However, the company said not to panic mobile customers.
It is learned that whenever a SIM card is inserted into a handset, it will send a signal to the BTRC database where the IMEI number of the authorized handsets will be stored. The SIM card will be activated only if it matches the IMEI database of the handset.
In this regard, AKM Shahiduzzaman further said that if no handset is found in the BTRC database after the active SIM card is entered in the mobile, then BTRC will keep the IMEI of that handset on the white list for seven days and give the user time to register using legal documents.
If a user wants to sell his handset, he has to register the handset through a specific website and re-register in the database under the new username.
Noteworthy that, according to BTRC sources, there is a demand for about three crore mobile handsets in Bangladesh every year. Most of it comes in the form of smuggling sources. As a result, the government loses about taka three thousand crores in revenue every year.
