BTRC introduces hotline
Biometric SIM verification
Staff Reporter
Telecom regulator has introduced a hotline 2872 to hear the complaints against operators customer care center and their retailers during biometric SIM verification.
If any retailer takes money or misconduct during biometric verification, customer could complain to 2872 and measures would be taken with quickest possible of time, State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim told reporters at a press conference at National Press Club in the capital yesterday.
She also urged the customer to handover the retailers to police station if they claim money for SIM re-registration.
Talking about the government measures regarding claiming and collecting money during SIM verification, the state minister said a team is working and they are taking punitive measures including cancelation of approval immediately after getting complaints.
So far, approval of 21 retailers has been cancelled, she added.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said 2872 is not a toll free number and minimum charge has been imposed to avoid unwanted call. People make unnecessary call when the number becomes toll-free, he observed.
A total of 5.45 crore SIMs of all operators have successfully been re-registered using biometric system till April 3 this year.
The number of the verified SIMS is nearly 42 per cent against the
total 13.10 crore SIMs sold by the cellular phone operators. But, the number of active SIMs at this moment is few less than the total, according to the operators.
The deadline for the biometric verification is April 30.
