Max SIMs under single NID cut down to five

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to reduce the number of SIM cards that can be registered under a single National Identity Card (NID), setting a new ceiling of five per individual, to be effective from 1 January 2026.

Under the revised policy, any SIMs exceeding the limit will be deactivated once the regulation comes into force.

However, the commission will allow the issuance of special-series SIMs for Internet of Things (IoT) devices through a separate registration mechanism.

The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight and curb mobile-based crimes, particularly in the run-up to the national election.

According to BTRC officials, the decision was taken at a recent high-level law and order meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A senior BTRC official said the proposal would be implemented after receiving formal approval from the Posts and Telecommunications Division.

He said given the current situation, it has been decided that new SIM registrations will be limited to five per NID.

Earlier, on 26 October, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government intended to reduce the number of SIM cards allowed per individual as part of its election-related security measures. He added that the long-term plan is to eventually bring the limit down to two SIMs per person.

On 29 October, BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari announced at a press briefing that mobile operators would begin disconnecting SIMs exceeding the existing 10-SIM limit from 1 November. He said that by the end of December, no NID would be allowed to retain more than 10 active SIMs.

In December, the chairman further clarified that from 1 January 2026, new SIM purchases would be restricted to five per NID. Those currently holding 10 SIMs will need to reduce the number before registering any new connections.

Bangladesh currently has about 188 million SIM connections serving around 67.6 million subscribers. Of them, roughly 12 million users hold an average of six SIM cards each, while about 80 per cent of subscribers already use five or fewer SIMs.

BTRC officials said the policy was prompted by growing evidence of misuse during SIM registration. Investigations revealed that some retailers had unlawfully stored customers' biometric data and later used it to activate additional SIMs without consent. In several cases, multiple SIMs were registered under a single NID on the same day.

The decision has triggered mixed reactions from users and mobile operators. Operators argue that limiting SIM numbers alone will not effectively prevent criminal activity. Many users also pointed out that SIM cards are increasingly used for internet access and IoT services rather than voice communication.

Multiple SIMs are often necessary to ensure reliable network coverage or to benefit from different operator packages. Some families also rely on a single NID to register SIMs for members who do not yet have one.

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