From December 16, 2025, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will start enforcing the NEIR system nationwide. Under NEIR, every mobile handset must be verified before it can connect to Bangladesh’s telecom networks.

The system works by checking the phone’s 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number against a central database that records legally imported or locally manufactured phones.

If the IMEI is on the “legal” list, the device remains authorized. If not, the handset will be blocked from mobile networks — making it effectively unusable for calls, SMS, internet, or mobile financial services.

To strengthen verification, NEIR also links each handset to a specific SIM and user identity. If someone changes the SIM card in a registered phone (or transfers the phone), the new pairing must be re-registered — otherwise the phone will not work.

Phones already active on networks as of launch date will be auto-registered. But second-hand phones, gifted or foreign-bought handsets, or devices from unofficial supply channels will need special registration via an NEIR portal.

Why the government is pushing NEIR

1. Crack down on illegal imports, tax evasion & revenue loss. According to government data, Bangladesh loses hundreds of crores of taka each year due to unregistered handsets entering the country — bypassing import duties and VAT.
2. Tackle phone-based fraud, SIM/cloning scams, and misuse. Officials argue that a huge share of digital and mobile-financial transaction fraud comes from illegal or reprogrammed phones. A 2024 report by Bangladesh Bank concluded 73% of digital fraud cases involved unregistered devices or SIMs.

NEIR also aims to prevent IMEI-cloning — a practice where one IMEI is used to manufacture many fake phones — with obvious security and law-enforcement benefits.

1. Support domestic handset manufacturing. By shutting down grey-market imports, the government and local manufacturers believe they can protect and grow the domestic handset industry, enabling locally made or properly imported phones to meet demand.

What’s fueling the controversy

A massive “grey market”

Estimates vary, but the share of “unofficial” phones in use is widely believed to be huge. According to industry insiders, a conservative estimate puts it below 60% — while some argue the real figure may be as high as 90%.

Why so many grey-market phones? Because the price difference is often large. Officially imported phones attract heavy import duties (one figure quoted is 57%) — which roughly doubles the retail price compared to the same model sold through unofficial channels.

For many consumers — especially lower- and middle-income segments — buying grey-market phones is the only affordable option. As one trader association noted, “official” phones are, in many cases, double the price of “unofficial” ones.

Thus, for a large portion of Bangladesh’s population, NEIR threatens to make existing phones worthless overnight — or force them to pay much more for an official handset.

Fear of sudden deactivation

Under the new rules, second-hand phones, gifted phones, or handsets bought abroad must go through a re-registration process.

Trading or transferring a registered phone to someone else also requires de-registration and re-registration with the new owner’s SIM/NID.

That means many households who use hand-me-down phones — or shift SIMs between devices — may suddenly find their phones blocked if they don’t follow the proper re-registration process.

That’s a big problem in a country where second-hand or used phones are common, and where many people share or change phones periodically.

Critics say this is a recipe for chaos — especially for lower-income people who cannot afford to buy new “official” devices.

Given the massive price gap between grey-market and official handsets, many worry that NEIR will push more people toward expensive legitimate phones, with no guarantee that locally made devices will remain affordable.

While the BTRC claims it’s monitoring handset prices and working to keep them stable, sceptics worry that demand-supply dynamics — plus the tax burden — will lead to sharp price hikes.

For many, NEIR may save the mobile industry, but at the cost of leaving a large segment of users stranded or struggling financially.

Anxiety among traders, retailers and consumers

Even before implementation, the impact is being felt. Mobile-phone traders, wholesalers and retailers have expressed fear of huge losses. On 19 November, some dealers announced planned shop closures to protest the policy and the detention of a handset-import firm CEO.

Consumer advocates have also voiced concern. With so many phones in use being unregistered, enforcing a blanket cutoff may cause widespread hardship, especially in rural or low-income areas. As one telecom commentator put it, rolling out NEIR without adjusting duty or tax policy may “alienate consumers” rather than protect them.

What the govt says

The government frames NEIR as more than a technical policy: it is a “national security and governance tool.”

Officials argue it will curb fraud, reduce SIM-cloning and financial scams, help track stolen phones, and protect state revenue.

They also believe that with fewer illegal imports, local manufacturers will thrive — thereby ensuring availability of quality devices at competitive prices.

To ease the transition, BTRC has proposed a one-time opportunity to legalize unauthorized handsets currently in the market.

In particular, BTRC has written to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) recommending reductions on import duty and VAT for local production/imports — in recognition of the argument that high taxes push people toward grey-market devices.

They have also promised to monitor and control handset prices after NEIR is launched, to prevent sharp cost increases.

Why the controversy persists

At heart, the debate around NEIR and “official vs unofficial” phones is more than a technical regulatory issue. It touches on fundamental questions of affordability, equity, access to digital services, and economic fairness.

• For many low- and middle-income people, grey-market phones are the only way to access mobile communication and internet — and by extension, mobile financial services, which are increasingly critical in daily life.
• A sudden ban or mass deactivation of such phones may leave many disconnected, with real social and economic cost.
• At the same time, ignoring grey-market imports undermines local industry, allows tax evasion, and promotes a parallel unregulated economy — with risks ranging from fraud to criminal misuse.

The government seems to recognize these trade-offs: it is offering a grace period, a pathway to legalization, and promises of price monitoring. But critics say that without a fairer tax structure, better protection for consumers, and a transparent, easy registration system, the pain will fall heavily on ordinary people — especially those with limited means.

As one local phone trader put it, the steep official prices are the very reason that made the grey market flourish.

What consumers should do

• If you own a phone, check its IMEI (dial *#06#), then send KYD IMEI to 16002 — this will tell you if the phone is already registered with NEIR.
• If you have a phone bought abroad, a second-hand device, or one gifted to you, make sure to register it through the official NEIR portal (neir.btrc.gov.bd) within the required timeframe.
• Keep proof of purchase or import (receipt, customs papers, passport, etc.), especially for devices brought from abroad — these will be required for registration.
• Be aware: once NEIR is live, changing SIMs or transferring phones may prevent the handset from working unless re-registered under the new SIM/NID.

Conclusion

The launch of NEIR represents a major shift in how mobile phones are regulated in Bangladesh. On the one hand, it promises to end a vast grey-market trade, recover lost revenues, protect domestic manufacturing, and curb fraud. On the other hand, it threatens to render a huge chunk of existing phones — those bought unofficially — useless, risking disruption for millions who rely on more affordable grey-market devices.

Whether NEIR will deliver on its promises or leave many end users stranded depends on how smoothly implementation goes, whether registration is accessible and fair, and whether legitimate handsets remain affordable for the average citizen.

In the coming weeks, consumers, retailers, and policymakers will all be watching closely. For many Bangladeshis, the countdown to 16 December is more than a date: it may determine whether their phone — and their connection to services, social networks, and the digital economy — continues to work.