Mobile phone operators won\\\'t sell SIMs sans verifying customers’ info

The government and the mobile phone operators agreed Sunday to undertake a joint efforts aiming to curb mobile-related crimes.  
To move forward, the operators agreed not to sell subscribers' identification module (SIM) to the customers without verifying information in their National Identity Card (NID) issued by the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission of Bangladesh.    
The development took place following a meeting on the day at the ministry of home affairs (MoHA) with the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) at the conference room of the ministry.  
State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal presided over the meeting. It was attended, among others, by high government officials and representatives of mobile phone operators.   
The meeting also formed a sub-committee headed by an additional secretary of the MoHA with the responsibility to submit an action plan to the government with an aim to check mobile-related crimes.
"We have directed the mobile phone operators not to sell SIMs without verifying information provided to the customers in their National Identity Cards," Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media after the meeting.
He said the government is determined to check mobile-related crimes such as toll collection and threats to life by unknown persons.
Regarding transfer of money through mobile banking, he said it will also come under scrutiny.
The head of the sub-committee said they will hold a meeting Thursday next to formulate an action plan.
"We will submit our report to the government soon. The Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Affairs will review our reports on December 2," Additional Secretary (Political) Kamal Uddin Ahmed who is heading the sub-committee told the FE after the meeting.
He said the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Affairs on October 10 last directed the MoHA to take necessary initiatives for curbing mobile crimes. And following that the MoHA has taken the initiatives.  
He said the sub-committee will consist of representatives from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC), members of government intelligence agencies and mobile operators.  
"I think it will check mobile-related crimes," he said.
Secretary General of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) TIM Nurul Kabir told the FE, "We will cooperate with the government. We would not sell SIMs to the customers without verifying their information in the NID".   

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