Mobile handsets with illegally imported or counterfeit International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) numbers will no longer be usable from the beginning of next year. This is because the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is going to use a technology that will shut down the SIM card service of these handsets.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been working on the technology for years to curb illegal imports and customs evasion.
BTRC Senior Assistant Director (Media) Zakir Hossain Khan said, “The government has given such a message before. It was supposed to be launched by October this year. However, the coronavirus outbreak has been delayed.
He added, “The tender process for software development is almost over. It will be implemented early next year.
Telecom Watchdog had earlier issued a public notice in July last year. Customers are then asked to check whether the IMEI number of the mobile device is registered with BTRC.
According to BTRC, 118.22 million IMEI numbers have been added to a database in the last three years with data from phone importers, operators and Bangladeshi mobile manufacturers.
According to the regulatory body, if any IMEI is unregistered, it is fake and has been brought into the country illegally.
Anyone can find the IMEI number of their handset on the screen of their mobile by dialing *#06#.
To know if it is registered, go to the message option of the mobile phone and write KYD space 15 digit IMEI number and send it to 16002.
On January 22 last year, BTRC launched the mobile handset online database. Since then all the legally imported and assembled handsets are being registered in their database.
According to BTRC officials, about 30 percent of the 10 million mobile phones currently in use in Bangladesh have been imported illegally.
