Bangladesh is set to launch its National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on December 16, 2025, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to curb mobile-related fraud, block illegal handset imports, and enhance transparency within the telecom sector.
Announced by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the initiative will bring every mobile device operating in the country under a centralized national database. All handsets active on local networks before the launch date will be automatically registered to ensure uninterrupted service.
Once implemented, all mobile phones brought from abroad must be registered online with proper documentation before being activated in Bangladesh. Devices that are unauthorized, counterfeit, or imported without paying customs duties will gradually be blocked from local networks.
During the official announcement, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT, highlighted that the NEIR will play a critical role in combating mobile financial service (MFS) fraud, SIM swap scams, and other digital crimes, many of which are conducted using unregistered devices.
The NEIR will serve as a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s broader digital governance and cybersecurity framework, enhancing consumer protection, reducing revenue loss from grey-market devices, and reinforcing national efforts toward a secure, transparent, and technology-driven telecom ecosystem.
