Bangladesh bans SIMS for those aged 18 and under

Dhaka, July 8 (ANI): Bangladesh Home Minister Sahara Khatun has announced that people under the age of 18 will not be allowed to use or have access to Removable User Identity Module (SIMs).

The announcement was made after a meeting of ministers.

Khatun said it has been decided to maintain a strict vigilance on SIM distributors and the retailers. She said that cell-phone companies have been asked to submit the list of dealers and retailers to Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) by September 30.

BTRC officials said all the six cell phone companies operating in the country have 55 million active mobile phone subscribers.

"The steps were intended to curb the crimes as criminals have been committing crimes across the country by using cellular phones extortions and intimidations of people using cell phones rose alarmingly," Khatun said.

Four months ago, the BRTA had suggested enactment of a tough law prescribing five years of imprisonment and penalties for crimes using mobile phones to intensify a government campaign against cell phone crimes.

It has also been decided that each subscriber would now need a national identity card and an introducer for buying a SIM card from any mobile phone operator. (ANI)