Bangladesh BTRC to reactivate NEIR to combat handset tax evasion

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced a two-phase plan to reactivate the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR). The initiative aims to curb an estimated annual government revenue loss of Tk2,000 crore caused by illegal handset production, smuggling, and unauthorized domestic sales.

The first phase, targeted for January 1, 2027, will focus on activating original system features, including the automatic registration of handsets currently operating on mobile networks and the inclusion of IMEI data for unsold stock held by authorized importers and manufacturers. This phase is designed to identify and block illegal and smuggled devices.

A second phase will later introduce a de-registration mechanism to verify handset ownership, combat cloned devices, and prevent financial fraud. BTRC officials noted that key features of the NEIR have remained disabled since its experimental launch in July 2021, hindering the system's primary objectives.