The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has launched the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR) to ensure the use of legal handsets and boost revenue against their sales.
The equipment identification register system was kicked off during an online event on Thursday.
Posts and telecommunication minister Mustafa Jabbar said there was no panic of losing network connectivity after the launch of NEIR as none would face any hassle.
"I don't want to get any complaint from customers regarding the implementation of the NEIR," Mr Jabbar said at the programme as the chief guest.
Terming the launch of the NEIR a milestone, he said it would help check digital crime.
"If there is any harassment of customers for the NEIR," the minister said, "it will hamper the real purpose of the technology."
The BTRC as well as the telecoms operators would have to take the responsibility of keeping all the existing mobile handsets functional, he mentioned.
"None of the mobile phone handsets connected before July 01 was not barred from using the telecom network," said BTRC director general Shahidul Alam.
Those handsets have already been registered with the NEIR system automatically, he added.
Mr Alam said all the legal handsets, which would get connected with the telecom network from today (July 01), would get registered with the NEIR automatically.
Customers would be notified and asked to complete registration for handsets but would not be disconnected from the network for three months even if they were found illegal, he continued.
The BTRC high official said the next course of action would be taken based on the government's instruction.
To avoid hassle, Mr Alam said, the telecoms regulator asked customers to verify legality of their handsets before purchasing.
Posts and telecoms secretary Afzal Hossain said a massive campaign among people at grass-roots level would be required to make the initiative successful.
Presided over by BTRC chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder, BTRC director general AKM Shahiduzzaman and Grameenphone chief executive officer Yasir Azman, among others, attended the programme.
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