The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has extended the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register system to January 1, 2026, postponing the original implementation date of December 16. The decision gives mobile phone traders additional time to submit details of unsold handsets and comply with new registration requirements.
Under the revised timeline, traders will have until December 31 to submit IMEI numbers and related information for unsold devices. Grey market traders have also been granted a three-month grace period to adapt to the new regulatory framework. The NEIR system is designed to curb the use of illegal mobile phones by verifying all devices operating on Bangladesh’s telecom networks.
Once operational, the system will identify whether mobile handsets are legally imported, locally manufactured, or brought into the country through unofficial channels. Devices approved through legal channels will be registered automatically using biometric SIM data, while unregistered and second-hand phones will require a separate registration process.
Industry representatives noted that implementation details remain linked to taxation policies. Mobile Business Community Bangladesh vice-president Shamim Molla said discussions with government officials indicated a possible three-month grace period for automatic registration, subject to decisions by the National Board of Revenue. Separately, the NBR has indicated it is considering tax concessions on locally produced and imported mobile phones to help reduce prices.
