NEIR goes live today

The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system will be activated today, bringing unauthorised new handsets that connect to the network under the blocking process.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) postponed the launch and extended the deadline for mobile handset dealers to submit information on unsold or stable devices until December 31, 2025.

"No handset, authorised or unauthorised, currently connected to the network will be blocked. Even the unsold stock held by traders, whose handset IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) lists have been submitted to the BTRC, will not be blocked," said Major General (retd) Md Emdad ul Bari, chairman of BTRC.

"Only new phones that connect to the network will be affected," a BTRC official said.

Expatriates will be allowed to bring two new handsets in addition to their used one, and will have a three-month grace period to register them with NEIR. During this period, the handsets will not be blocked. These handsets can be registered in the NEIR using travel documents.

"The NEIR will be activated if the advisory council reduces the import and production duties of handsets on Thursday," said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser with executive authority over posts, telecom, and ICT.

Previously, the Posts and Telecommunications Division granted a three-month delay to NEIR launch after handset sellers, affected by the blocking of grey-market devices, staged a protest at the Karwan Bazar intersection in Dhaka on December 10, which brought traffic to a standstill.

However, a BTRC official said the commission has not yet been officially informed about this decision.

The BTRC says NEIR was introduced to curb illegal handsets, block stolen phones, and bring order to Bangladesh's fragmented mobile market.

Technically, NEIR links three identifiers -- IMEI, SIM (subscriber identity module) number, and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) -- to determine network access. It does not intercept calls, read messages, or monitor internet activity.

Concerns remain because NEIR permanently links devices and SIMs in a central database, creating a strong digital identity that could enable tracing through metadata if combined with other systems.

According to experts, NEIR itself is not a surveillance tool but could lower barriers to surveillance if safeguards are weak.

Similar systems operate in India, Pakistan, the UK, and Australia, mainly to block stolen phones. Some experts say NEIR can deter fraud in a digital economy, while critics argue its legitimacy depends on strict legal oversight, transparency, proportionality, and privacy protections.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb further said that the amended telecom ordinance, approved by the advisory council on December 24, includes provisions to protect device users.

"The ordinance adds a clause barring surveillance or harassment of citizens through SIM and device registration, making any violation a punishable offence," he added.