Intensifying actions against cell phone crime in Bangladesh, the telecom communication regulatory body of the country has prescribed five years imprisonment and a fine up to Taka 5 crore, payable by the accused as well as the service provider.
In a bid to check extortion threats, circulation of obscene matters and other crimes through mobile phones in the country, the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has proposed the steps, already approved by the home ministry and is expected to be tabled before the cabinet before parliament, Prothom Alo newspaper reported today.
BTRC officials said the proposal also suggested punitive actions against the cell phone operators for failing to ensure transparency or regulate the sale of SIM cards.
“The proposed law was drafted in consultation with the mobile phone operators, if they can ensure transparency in their works they would not face any problem,” BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The report came as the government last week enforced an order barring people under the age of 18 from buying SIM cards in desperate efforts to control growing crimes using mobile phone, especially by youngsters.
Officials said people who want to subscribe SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) numbers would now also need the national identity card and an introducer. Restrictions were also slapped on getting authorised certificates for selling SIMs as vendors should possess secondary school certificates and must go through police verification.
The steps were taken after police found teenagers dominating Dhaka?s underworld as they prepared a list of 559 young gangsters prompting authorities to launch a campaign.
“SIM cards are now so available that you will get one even from a betel leaf seller. The extortionists and criminals are using SIM cards which are not properly registered,” Home Minister Sahara Khatun had told reporters last week.