Starting January next year, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has approved a new policy allowing individuals to register and utilize a maximum of five personal SIM cards per national ID (NID). This decision comes as a revision from the current allowance of up to 10 SIM cards per NID for each citizen.
During a recent commission meeting, the BTRC discussed the prevailing law enforcement situation and concerns raised by the home ministry regarding the misuse of SIM cards in criminal activities. Following this discourse, the regulatory body is set to direct mobile network operators to implement the revised guideline for all new registrations commencing in 2026.
This adjustment signifies the second significant tightening of Bangladesh’s SIM registration regulations within a year. In April 2025, the BTRC had already reduced the limit from 15 SIMs to 10 per NID, a transition that is now in effect and includes a 45-day grace period for users to deactivate surplus numbers.
Furthermore, the regulator has initiated a nationwide awareness campaign urging subscribers to adhere to the new directive by October 30.