NEIR Launch December 16 to Curb Illegal Mobile Handsets: BTRC

October 29, 2025 | By | Reply More

To stop the use of illegal mobile handsets, detect financial fraud in mobile financial services, prevent mobile phone theft, and strengthen government revenue and security systems, the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) will be launched in Bangladesh on December 16, 2025.
Through this new system, customers will receive better services by using only approved, standard, and legally imported mobile devices. Illegal or cloned IMEI phones will not be allowed to connect to the network in the future.

At a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, Mr. Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Honorable Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT, stated that discrepancies in various government service databases often pose challenges for law enforcement in combating crime.
According to the 2024 report of Bangladesh Bank, 73% of digital fraud in the country originates from illegal devices and SIM cards, which will be reduced significantly through NEIR implementation.
He mentioned that illegal handsets cause an annual revenue loss of around BDT 500 crore, and added that NEIR will not only offer technological advantages but will also play an important role in ensuring national and consumer security by reducing SIM-related fraud and financial scams.

In his presidential speech, Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari (Retd.), Chairman of BTRC, said that NEIR will make it easier to identify mobile handsets and SIM-related issues. He informed that a guideline is being developed based on the existing telecom network policy.
Currently, 38% of phones used in Bangladesh are feature phones, and initiatives are underway to increase smartphone usage.
He noted that the presence of stolen and refurbished phones in the market keeps handset prices high, and once NEIR is implemented, 18 domestic mobile handset manufacturers will be able to offer devices at competitive prices.

Brigadier General Md. Aminul Haque, Director General of the Spectrum Division, gave a detailed presentation on how NEIR will operate. He explained that due to the absence of NEIR, the government loses a significant amount of revenue each year.
Under the new system, all new mobile phones connecting to the network will be temporarily active while NEIR verifies their legality. If valid, the handset will automatically register and remain active; if found illegal, users will be notified via SMS and the handset will remain connected for 30 days, after which it will automatically be disconnected.
However, phones legally purchased or received as gifts from abroad can remain active through special registration.

Mr. Zakaria Shahid, President of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), thanked BTRC for taking this initiative and mentioned that local manufacturers will soon be able to meet domestic demand and export handsets abroad.

Lt. Col. (Retd.) Mohammad Zulfiqar, Secretary General of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), said that mobile operators are fully committed to implementing NEIR and emphasized the importance of collective efforts to raise public awareness.

In his closing remarks, Mahmud Hossain, Commissioner of the Spectrum Division at BTRC, thanked journalists and requested the media’s cooperation in spreading awareness about NEIR.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Posts and Telecommunications Division, BTRC commissioners, representatives from MIOB, AMTOB, and other relevant institutions.

Possible Challenges and Actions Regarding the Implementation of NEIR

Objectives of NEIR:

  • Reduce the import and use of illegal mobile handsets.
  • Strengthen national revenue and security systems.
  • Decrease incidents of mobile phone theft.
  • Enable easy tracking and blocking of stolen or lost phones.
  • Ensure better service quality for users by allowing only approved and legally imported devices on the network.
  • Prevent illegal or cloned IMEI phones from connecting to the network, enhancing customer security.
  • Allow buyers to verify handset legality before purchase.

Steps Before Purchasing a New Mobile Handset (Effective from December 16, 2025):

Before purchasing a phone from any source (retail store, online platform, or e-commerce site), verify its legality following the method below and keep the purchase receipt.
If valid, the handset will automatically register in the NEIR system.

Step 1: In your phone’s message option, type:
KYD <space> 15-digit IMEI number
Example: KYD 123456789012345
Step 2: Send the message to 16002.
Step 3: You will receive a reply message indicating whether the handset is legal.

Registration Process for Phones Purchased or Received from Abroad:

Phones legally purchased or received as gifts from abroad will remain temporarily active and users will receive an SMS within 30 days instructing them to submit required documents online for verification.
Only valid handsets will be registered and allowed on the network; others will be disconnected after notification.

Steps for Special Registration:

  1. Visit neir.btrc.gov.bd and create a personal account.
  2. Go to the Special Registration section and enter your handset’s IMEI number.
  3. Upload scanned copies of required documents (passport with visa/immigration page, purchase receipt, etc.) and click Submit.
  4. If valid, the handset will be registered automatically. Invalid handsets will be disconnected after SMS notification.

Note: These services can also be availed at the nearest mobile operator’s customer care center.

According to existing baggage rules:
A person can bring one previously used personal handset and one new handset duty-free from abroad, and another one by paying customs duty.

Required Documents for Special Registration:

For purchased devices:

  1. Passport personal information page (scan/photo).
  2. Immigration arrival stamp page (scan/photo).
  3. Purchase receipt (scan/photo).
  4. Customs duty payment proof (if more than one handset).

For gifted devices:

  1. Passport personal information page.
  2. Immigration arrival stamp page.
  3. Customs duty proof (if more than one handset).
  4. Purchase receipt.
  5. Gift declaration letter from the sender.

For devices received via airmail:

  1. Sender’s passport or national ID (if applicable).
  2. Recipient’s national ID.
  3. Purchase receipt.
  4. Customs duty receipt (if more than one handset).

Checking the Status of Currently Used Handsets:

All mobile phones active in the network before December 16, 2025 will automatically be registered; no separate registration is required.

To check status:

  1. Dial *16161# from your handset.
  2. Enter your 15-digit IMEI number.
  3. You’ll receive a message with the handset’s registration status.

Service is also available via neir.btrc.gov.bd or customer care centers.

De-registration Process (When Selling or Transferring a Handset):

From December 16, 2025, users can de-register their devices before selling or transferring them.
You must provide the last four digits of your NID during de-registration.

Available methods:

Conditions:

  • The SIM card used in the handset must be registered under the user’s NID.
  • For cloned/duplicate IMEI phones, the new user’s SIM number must be provided.

For Corporate SIM Users:
Corporate users will be notified via SMS to submit their personal NID within 30 days. They can use their NID or the Key Contact Point (KCP) NID for de-registration.

Procedure for Blocking Lost or Stolen Phones:

Users can lock or unlock stolen or lost devices anytime via:

For Users Without Internet Access:

Those without internet can access NEIR services via:

  • USSD channel (*121#), or
  • Nearest operator customer care center.

For Mobile Handset Manufacturers and Importers:

Registered manufacturers and vendors must:

  1. Follow BTRC guidelines for production/import.
  2. Submit IMEI data to BTRC in the specified format before marketing.
  3. Handsets without prior IMEI submission will not be allowed on the network.

For Mobile Phone Sellers:

Before selling a phone, retailers must:

  1. Verify IMEI with the manufacturer/importer.
  2. Refrain from selling fake or unregistered IMEI phones, as they cannot access the network.

For NEIR-related Queries:

For any NEIR-related information, contact:

  • BTRC Helpdesk: Dial 100
  • Mobile Operator Customer Care: Dial 121
    or visit nearby customer service centers.

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Category: Btrc

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