The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has urged mobile users to verify the legality of their handsets before 16 December 2025. On that date, the government will begin disconnecting all unregistered, cloned, and illegally imported new and used devices from national mobile networks. The initiative marks the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system, a nationwide effort to ensure that only approved and legally imported devices remain active. It looks like this will not impact Bangladesh’s fast growing secondary mobile market. As long as consumer register their device prior to using.
According to BTRC, the NEIR database will become a crucial tool for identifying legitimate handsets and restricting counterfeit or grey-market imports. The system also aims to enhance national security, curb digital fraud, and protect government tax revenues.
Combating fraud and revenue loss
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, said that 73% of digital frauds in Bangladesh originate from illegal devices and SIM cards. Bangladesh Bank’s 2024 report estimates an annual loss of around Tk 500 crore in government revenue due to unauthorized handset use “The NEIR system will significantly reduce such crimes while protecting state revenue and consumer safety,” Taiyeb said.
How users can verify their devices
To confirm a handset’s legality, users can send a simple text message before purchasing a device. Devices with registered IMEI numbers under NEIR will remain connected to mobile networks after 16 December. For handsets, new or used, purchased or received as gifts from abroad, users must register the device online within 30 days of activation. They can create a personal account, enter the IMEI number, and upload documents such as passport pages or purchase receipts. If the handset is valid, it will be automatically approved.
Existing handsets automatically registered
Officials confirmed that devices already in use before 16 December will be automatically registered, so no additional action is needed for current users. The regulation mainly targets unregistered and cloned devices entering the market through informal channels.
Boosting local production and affordability
BTRC Chairman Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari (Retd) said that NEIR will make it easier to trace stolen or cloned handsets and resolve SIM-related issues. With nearly 38% of users still relying on feature phones, the government aims to promote affordable smartphone access and stimulate domestic manufacturing.
Referring to the impact of stolen and refurbished handsets on market prices, Bari noted that once NEIR is operational, Bangladesh’s 18 local mobile manufacturing companies will be able to offer competitively priced, certified devices.
Industry and operator support for NEIR
President of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), Zakaria Shahid, welcomed the initiative, saying it will strengthen the domestic industry’s credibility and pave the way for exports. The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) also expressed full support, with Secretary General Lt Colonel (Retd) Mohammad Zulfiqar calling for a united effort to raise awareness of NEIR among consumers.
The official nationwide rollout of NEIR on 16 December, Victory Day, marks a milestone in Bangladesh’s digital transformation, aligning telecom security, consumer protection, and industrial growth under one regulatory framework.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
