Although all illegal and unregistered mobile handsets are scheduled to be shut down after December 26, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has offered major relief for those currently using unregistered devices.
According to the regulator, every mobile phone active on the network before December 16—whether valid, invalid, or missing from the database—will be automatically registered and allowed to operate normally.
The announcement came on Sunday through an official BTRC statement, which added that the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system will go live on December 16. With its launch, automatic registration will begin for all devices already in use, easing concerns among long-time users of unregistered phones who feared sudden network disconnection.
How to Check Phone Legitimacy
BTRC has also outlined simple steps for users to verify handset validity:
Dial *#06# to obtain the phone’s IMEI number
Send a text message: KYD <space> 15–digit IMEI
Send it to 16002
You will receive a reply confirming whether the handset is valid or invalid
Support & Information Services
For NEIR-related inquiries, call the BTRC helpdesk at 100
Dial *16161# from any operator for additional services
Contact your operator’s customer care by dialing 121
More information is available at: neir.btrc.gov.bd
Officials say the system will help clearly distinguish between legal and illegal handsets in the country’s import-heavy mobile market, and is expected to reduce long-standing irregularities.