Mobile phone operators across Bangladesh will begin deactivating additional SIM cards registered under a single national ID (NID) from Saturday, as per a directive from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). The move targets users who have more than 10 active SIMs under one NID.
In a recent notice, the regulator announced that any excess SIMs will be automatically deactivated starting in November. Users who fail to voluntarily deactivate their extra SIMs may lose access to randomly selected numbers, which could include important ones.
The decision follows BTRC’s earlier announcement on July 30, reducing the limit of active SIMs per individual from 15 to 10. Subscribers have been advised to deregister extra SIMs through their respective operators’ customer care centers.
BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari said that operators will begin the deactivation process this weekend and ensure that by December 2025, no NID retains more than 10 active SIMs.
According to the regulator, as of March 2025, Bangladesh had 186.2 million active SIMs, though the actual number of unique users was around 67.5 million. Data shows that over 80% of subscribers use fewer than five SIMs, 16% use between six and ten, and only 3% hold more than ten.
Officials said the measure aims to streamline SIM registration, prevent identity misuse and fraud, and ensure better management of the country’s mobile network.
Subscribers can verify the number of SIMs registered under their NID by visiting the BTRC’s online portal or dialing *16002#. The deactivation will occur through a random selection process, meaning even significant numbers may be affected if they exceed the permitted limit.
