BTRC launches NEIR amid user complaints, seller protests

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Thursday formally launched the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), a digital system aimed at detecting and blocking illegally imported or unregistered mobile phones to curb grey market sales and strengthen mobile security.

To ease the transition, the government said no phones will be blocked for the next three months, while existing stock held by businesses will be regularised. 

Expatriates returning to Bangladesh will receive a three-month grace period before mandatory registration, and foreign visitors staying for less than three months will not be required to register their devices.

According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, all “reasonable demands” raised by stakeholders – including reduced customs duties and the legalisation of previously imported handsets – have been addressed.

The ministry said the NEIR rollout comes amid heightened concern over mobile security following the recent murder of Shahid Osman Hadi, in which investigators found 17 active SIM cards linked to the accused. 

Law enforcement agencies have urged swift implementation of NEIR and stricter limits on per-person SIM ownership to prevent misuse.

User complaints on launch day

Despite the official launch, users reported multiple issues on the first day. 

Some said dozens of devices appeared registered under their SIM and National Identity Card (NID) numbers.

Md Abdullah Al Shafi said he found 110 devices linked to his SIM, including 69 registered in December alone, many of which he claimed to have sold years earlier. “I never used my SIM in these devices. Now I fear that if these phones are misused, I could face legal trouble,” he told Daily Sun.

A Daily Sun reporter also found 30 IMEIs registered under their SIM and NID since 2021, including one listed as “99999999999999”, a pattern reported by several users on social media. 

Many users also complained of login failures on the NEIR website despite using valid SIM and NID credentials.

BTRC’s Spectrum Department is overseeing the system’s implementation. Commissioner Mahmood Hossain did not respond to requests for comment.

Unofficial sellers protest

Unofficial mobile phone sellers, who have long opposed the NEIR system, staged protests demanding lower taxes. 

Although BTRC allowed sellers to submit device lists for regularisation by 31 December, only seven complied, according to officials.

On Tuesday, some sellers shut down shops and gathered outside BTRC offices, vandalising property before law enforcement agencies, along with the Army, intervened. Authorities detained 26 individuals in connection with the incident.

Enforcement and security measures

The government said NEIR implementation fulfils its earlier commitments and that strict enforcement will begin at customs houses and airports to prevent illegal handset imports.

Under the new telecommunications ordinance, safeguards have been introduced against SIM misuse and unauthorised access to the NEIR database, with stringent penalties for violations. 

Authorities said those involved in attacks on BTRC property will face prosecution, and raids may be conducted in wholesale markets suspected of selling illegal phones.

Officials view NEIR as a critical tool for strengthening digital security, curbing illegal mobile trade, and supporting fair election management.