B Mirror Desk : Millions of counterfeit and duplicate mobile phone IMEI numbers are currently active on Bangladesh’s mobile networks, according to findings from the newly launched National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). The system has detected widespread use of clone and fake devices, including irregular IMEI patterns such as “0000000000000,” “1111111111111,” and “9999999999999,” the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said on Thursday.

NEIR, launched by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on January 1, aims to curb the use of fake and cloned phones. For now, suspicious IMEIs are being placed in a “gray” category rather than blacklisted to avoid sudden disruption for users.

Data analysis shows that millions of substandard phones—often lacking mandatory safety and radiation testing—are operating across all four mobile networks. One IMEI alone has been linked to over 39 crore connections over the past decade. Authorities also noted difficulties distinguishing between phones and IoT devices, prompting separate tagging for legally imported IoT equipment.

Officials said the full scale of the problem became clear only after NEIR’s implementation. Unregistered devices have been linked to the majority of digital and e-KYC fraud cases in recent years, underscoring the urgency of continued monitoring and enforcement to protect consumers and public interest.