Users flag anomalies as NEIR portal shows dozens of phones registered against one NID

After registering with the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), many individuals have reported finding multiple mobile phones listed against their National Identity (NID) numbers.

Since the system became active, social media posts and user accounts have highlighted cases in which 10, 50 or even more handsets are listed under one person's NID, raising concerns about data accuracy and system transparency.

One user, Masum Billah Bhuiyan of Dhaka, shared screenshots on Facebook on Thursday night, showing his NID alongside a list of registered International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. He noted that 53 mobile phones were registered in his name, 42 of them added in December alone.

The Business Standard also found discrepancies after completing NEIR registration for a reporter, with eight phones shown as registered under their NID.

No phone will be blocked for 90 days even after NEIR launch, says Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb as website glitches

Another user, Tanzia Tull, said 22 IMEI numbers appeared against her NID, despite having used no more than eight handsets. She added that although she currently has four active SIM cards registered in her name, she has purchased and used a maximum of seven SIMs in total.

She also pointed out that some of the listed IMEI numbers contained only 14 digits, whereas a standard IMEI consists of 15 digits.

According to information available online, a 14-digit display is often linked to CDMA network identifiers, known as Mobile Equipment Identifiers (MEIDs), or to cases where the final check digit is missing. In some instances, the full 15-digit IMEI may appear when a GSM SIM card is inserted into the device.

Phones that support both CDMA and GSM technologies may show a 14-digit IMEI when a CDMA SIM is in use. Bangladesh's only CDMA operator, Citycell, shut down its operations in 2016.

Apart from the unusually high number of devices linked to individual NIDs, users have also complained about the complexity of the NEIR system and the accuracy of its data since its launch.

When contacted, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser overseeing the ICT and telecommunications divisions, said the issue stemmed largely from the volume and nature of data uploaded by mobile operators.

"We have received more than three billion datasets from operators. That means operators have uploaded everything into the system, including historical data," he said.

He explained that because the system currently shows the migration date as the present date, many users are seeing a higher number of active SIMs or handsets associated with their NIDs.

"The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and mobile telecom operators are working jointly on the issue," Faiz said. "Gradually, we will archive the historical data in the background and resolve the discrepancies."

He also clarified that the NEIR was not a new system. "It existed before. An initial attempt to launch it was made in 2021. We have now activated it by adding some functional features," he said.

Under Bangladesh's regulations, an individual was initially allowed to register up to 20 SIM cards under a single NID. The limit was later reduced to 15 and is now being brought down to 10.

Given this history, Faiz said, it was natural for the NEIR mapping to show a much higher number of mobile phones against a single NID due to accumulated historical records.

Thanking the public for pointing out errors and reporting issues, Faiz requested patience while the system resolves technical complexities, reports BSS.

He further stated that the system will provide citizens with awareness about how many SIMs and devices have been used under their NID, which can help detect financial crimes such as mobile banking fraud or online gambling.

Regarding data security, Taiyeb confirmed that measures have been taken, including secure JWT digital tokens and rate-limiting. Future access to data will require NID verification, with an additional security layer to enhance protection.