Number of SIMs per user to be reduced further ahead of election: Home adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said the number of mobile SIMs a customer can register will be reduced before the upcoming national election.

There is a plan to lower the number of SIMs per customer to 5-7 before the election, with a long-term goal of limiting each customer to two SIM cards, he said while briefing reporters after the 15th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs today (26 October).

"Under the current rule, a mobile user can register a maximum of 15 SIMs using their NID. From 30 October 2025, the number of such SIMs will be reduced to 10," he said.

"Efforts will be made to further reduce the number of SIMs per customer before the national election."

Explaining the decision, he said, "Sometimes a person commits a crime using another person's SIM card, making it hard to identify the real offender. After an incident occurs, it is often found that the SIM card used does not belong to the person involved. Therefore, the number of SIM cards per person will be reduced before the election."

Addressing questions on ensuring a fair election, the adviser said, "A level playing field existed under the current interim government, it still exists, and it will continue in the future."

He added that no political party has raised objections and that all law enforcement appointments and transfers have been made transparently. "All necessary preparations are being made for a fair election," he said, expressing hope for smooth and successful polls.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani, Police Inspector General Baharul Alam, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud attended the briefing. 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the meeting focused on preparations for the national election and the overall law and order situation. Police were instructed to prevent theft, snatching, extortion, land grabbing, and organised criminal activities, and to take necessary steps to stop anyone from creating unrest through social media.

Decisions were also made to strengthen legal and social measures against violence toward women and children, take effective action against drugs, prevent post-bail terrorist activities by top terrorists, and curb the activities of banned organisations. 

Authorities, including the industrial police, were instructed to ensure that garment and industrial factory workers do not face unrest over wages or bonuses, while factory owners were asked to ensure the timely payment of salaries and allowances.