NEIR rollout postponed to 1 Jan, traders get till 31 Dec to submit unsold handset data

The launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system has been postponed to 1 January 2026, extending the deadline for mobile phone traders to submit details of unsold handsets.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Deputy Director (Media) Zakir Hossain Khan confirmed the development to The Business Standard today (15 December).

Govt to launch NEIR on 16 December, 3-month grace period granted to grey-market traders

The NEIR system was scheduled to be launched on 16 December to curb the use of illegal mobile phones in the country. However, traders involved in the grey market received a three-month grace period to adjust to the new system.

Earlier, mobile phone businesses were given time until 15 December to include the IMEI numbers and related information of previously imported but unsold/stocked mobile handsets in the NEIR system. However, authorities observed that many traders have yet to submit the required data.

To facilitate those businesses, the authorities decided to defer the NEIR system's launch from 16 December to 1 January 2026, and extended the data submission deadline to 31 December.

All mobile phone traders who still have unsold or stocked handsets have been requested to submit the IMEI numbers and relevant information in the prescribed Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) format by 31 December, via email to neir@btrc.gov.bd.

What is the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR)?

The National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) is a government system that will verify every mobile handset on Bangladesh's telecom networks.

According to the BTRC, NEIR will automatically detect whether a phone is legally imported, locally manufactured, or brought into the country through unofficial channels. 

All legally approved devices currently in use will be registered automatically through their biometric SIMs, while unregistered or second-hand devices must follow a separate process.