Banglalink to face punishment for false SIM info: BTRC

Mobile phone operator Banglalink would face legal steps if it is found guilty of providing false information during SIM registration.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is looking the issue seriously following the arrest of the official and vendors of Banglalink, a subsidiary of Netherlands based global telecommunication provider VimpelCom Limited, with fake documents.

BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood today said they have taken the matter seriously that is why investigation is going on.

"After the investigation, we will take appropriate punishment," he said, adding, "There is no way to compromise."

The chairman passed the remarks at a press conference that organized to launch Voice Mail Service of Cellular Network at BTRC office this noon.

BTRC under the direct supervision of the posts and telecommunications division (PTD) concluded the five-month biometric SIM verification campaign successfully in May last year to ensure the actual ownership of mobile phone users.

On February 9, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested private operator Banglalink's zonal manager as well as owner and manager of its retailer M R Communication along with 58 sales agents for their involvement of using false information for selling new SIM cards.

During the raid to M R Communication's office, RAB found its staff using false addresses, printing fake national ID cards, and attaching copies of them to SIM card registration forms, in presence of the Banglalink zonal manager.

M R Communication gave targets to its sales agents to sell at least 8,000 SIM cards per month. In a hurry, the sales agents just took finger prints and the national ID numbers to activate the SIM cards and give them to customers but they did not take photos or other information. Later, they used to fill a fake form and attach copies of fake national ID cards and photos with it.

According to the RAB officials, they found a mismatch between customers' information and their addresses while investigating some recent complaints of threats.

Source: BSS