The state minister for home, Shamsul Haque Tuku, on Wednesday said that the government had taken a tough stand against crimes using mobiles and the mobile operators will need to shoulder responsibilities for crimes committed using illegal connections.
He said that the home ministry would institute a monitoring cell to prevent mobile-based crimes and unauthorised use of SIMs (subscriber’s identification modules).
’The cell, headed by the joint secretary (political), comprised of representatives of law enforcement agencies, and mobile operators would find out ways to bring an end to crimes using mobiles,’ he said.
‘The government is serious about dealing with such crimes. No connection will be given without the national identity cards,’ he told reporters after a meeting with officials of six mobile operators at the secretariat.
He said that the law enforcers would arrest anyone selling SIMs to customers with forged documents. Anyone but the company sales representatives are found selling SIMs would also face the same treatment,’ he said.
The mobile operators, meanwhile, at the meeting urged the state minister to lift the provision that requires showing the national identity card for buying SIMs while the sales could only be done by authorised dealers and retailers.
The government ordered the rules in October 2010 which, according to the mobile operators, reduced sales of their SIMs.
They proposed that the minister should allow certificates from elected representatives and other identification documents as proof of identity.
The minister assured the operators that he would take up the matter with the national committee on mobile phones.
Courtesy of New Age
