If the report is true it will not help the people of Bangladesh rather the crooks, extortionists and muggers.

www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=87859


Much to the delight of the mobile phone thieves, the telecom watchdog has backtracked on its earlier plan to introduce the use of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to track down stolen or lost sets in the country's 45-million strong market.

An official of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said yesterday the plan to use IMEI numbers has already been scrapped, and the commission has no intention to introduce it further as such system has not proved successful globally.

"BTRC won't introduce the system," the official said, adding that the commission did not find any country that was successful in stopping mobile set theft by using IMEI numbers.

Earlier the commission made a commitment to introduce the system to stop such theft that is rising on a massive scale. The commission that time pointed out that the stolen or lost sets are being used for criminal activities.

However, concerned over the national security and such theft, Department of Telecom (DoT) of India last week had asked operators to disconnect services to handsets that do not have IMEI numbers. DoT also asked the operators to store IMEI numbers.

IMEI is a unique number given to every single mobile phone, usually found behind the battery inside the handset. IMEI numbers of cellular phones connected to a GSM network are stored in a database called EIR (Equipment Identity Register).

The IMEI number consists of 15 digits and can be seen by dialling *#06#.

Mobile set is one of the lucrative items for the city muggers as there is big grey market for the second hand sets. Almost everyday law enforcers receive complaints of mobile set theft.

AKM Shahidul Haque, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), backs the idea of using IMEI number.

He said: "Law enforcers can easily track down the criminals through IMEI number."

Talking to The Daily Star, Mohammad Abid, an official of DMP Exchange, said they receive more than 60 percent phone calls a day relating to mobile phone mugging.

However, a number of handsets sold in the grey market do not have IMEI number, which is a cause for concern for the law enforcers.

A direction from the telecom watchdog is enough to officially introduce the system, said another BTRC official.

He said mobile operators store all data about mobile sets, including IMEI and SIM (subscribe identity module) numbers, in their system. The companies are now using these numbers to offer bonus talk time to the customers.

The official said the IMEI number not only works in a certain area, it can be used in global network.

He said if anyone loses his or her mobile set in Bangladesh and inform the operator, that complaint will be reported to all operators automatically who are connected with the local operator.