Bangladesh: Illegal mobile sets are being shut down in the country from April

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If all goes well, mobile SIMs will not be introduced on any illegal handsets after next April. SIM can be introduced only with legally imported and legally produced sets in the country. Even if someone has bought an illegal handset in the last one year, it will be shut down. SIMs registered with the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) of the regulatory body BTRC will be introduced. Valid sets will be registered with NEIR before they come on the market. When a customer goes to buy a mobile set, he can send the IMEI number of the set to the specified number through free SMS to know whether it is valid or invalid.

BTRC is buying equipment at a cost of Tk 30 crore for a technical solution to stop illegal handsets. Equipment was also ordered last Thursday. Synesis IT Limited got the job. They will have to reach an agreement in this regard by December 2. The entire system must be commissioned within 120 days of the contract. The last time they work is April. In the meantime, they have to launch the technology.

BTRC Deputy Director Zakir Hossain Khan told the media that they are working with the aim of cracking down on illegal handsets as soon as possible. Once the equipment arrives, there will be no more illegal handsets in the market. No one can turn it on even if they buy it.

It is learned that BTRC took the initiative to stop the first illegal mobile set in 2012. However, for various reasons, it has not been implemented so far. This year, the plan is being put into practice by inviting tenders and selecting a company. The BTRC says the NEIR system is being introduced to prevent counterfeit handsets, illegal imports, theft and loss of revenue. Through this, the IMEI of the phone launched on the mobile network will be matched with the set of databases legally imported and produced in the country. Illegal, stolen and counterfeit sets cannot be turned on. This will reduce the tendency to steal mobile sets.

Zakaria Shahid, MD of Symphony, general secretary of the Mobile Phone Importers Association said, we have been demanding this for a long time. We have even done the initial work of NEIR on behalf of our organization. Now if it is introduced there will be three types of benefits. First, customers should not be deceived into buying fake or invalid sets. Second, the government will get 100% of the revenue from the set sold. And third, the job of law enforcement will be easier. You don't have to bother much to find a person. You will get the right person at number one. Besides, the tendency of stealing mobile sets will decrease.

How to tell if a set is valid:

The method of verifying the validity of a mobile phone is to go to the message option, type KYD, enter a 15-digit IMEI number with a space and send it to 16002. In the return message, it will be known whether it is valid or invalid. The IMEI number is on the packet of the mobile phone. Apart from this, IMEI number can be known by dialing * # 08 #.

What will happen to the sets brought from abroad: BTRC has informed that even if NERI is introduced, people will be able to bring the sets when they come from abroad. However, it has to be registered. BTRC will make arrangements for registration. This arrangement will be available at the airport. Besides, you can also register with BTRC by showing the valid documents of purchase. According to the preliminary decision of BTRC, one person can import a maximum of two handsets a year. If he brings more than that, he will have to pay tax.

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