Dhaka: The government has extended the deadline for SIM re-registration under the biometric method till 31 May.

State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim announced this at a press briefing at the main office of BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) on Saturday afternoon, reports UNB.

However, some unregistered SIMs will be deactivated randomly for three hours for once from 1 May to 31 May as symbolic punishment and warning. The SIMs/RUIMs of those users who don’t complete the re-registration through the biometric system will be deactivated permanently after the extended deadline without any warning, she said.

‘The deactivated SIMs cannot be sold for the next 15 months. The decision has been taken for the interest of the users who are now outside the country,’ said Tarana.

She also revealed that 8.90 crore mobile phone users among over 13 crore have already re-registered their SIMs and RUIMs.

‘Around 15 lakh mentally challenged mobile phone users will remain out of the purview of the symbolic punishment. Besides, mentally challenged users will get special privilege every Saturday in May for re-registration of their SIMs,’ added the State Minister.

Responding to a question over the allegation of fees being charged by retailers for SIM re-registration, she said there is no system of taking charges as re-registration is totally free.

‘But there are around 1.20 lakh retailer shops for conducting re-registration of SIMs and it is tough for us to bring all of those under surveillance,’ she said.

The process of re-registering SIMs/RUIMs under the biometric system began on 16 December last and the deadline was fixed for 30 April.