Dhaka: The registration of mobile phone sets will begin in the country on February 9. State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim will inaugurate the registration programme which would be organised by Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers’ Association at Westin Hotel in the capital on the day.

The government has taken the step to register the handsets in order to detect the mobile phone sets if lost or stolen and curb crimes, said sources at the Posts and Telecommunications Division.

Talking to UNB, Tarana Halim recently said work to create a database with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of cellphones is underway.

The mobile importers’ association has already built their own database in this regard and their database software will be launched on February 9.

Though it is a private initiative, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Communication (BTRC) will preserve the database of IMEI numbers, she said.

Once the database is completed, illegal handsets will be closed, the junior minister added.

Earlier, the re-registration of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) through biometric system began on December 16 last which will continue till April next.