Rohingya refugees in the camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar have started receiving SIM cards legally under a new government initiative.
The official SIM card distribution programme was inaugurated on Monday by Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) of Cox’s Bazar.
On the first day, legal SIM cards were handed over to the elected president and executive members of the United Council of Rohang (UCR), a representative organisation of the Rohingyas.
According to the RRRC office, a total of 10,000 SIM cards will be distributed during the first phase, and the number will gradually increase in subsequent stages.
Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said, “All illegal SIM cards currently being used by Rohingyas will be blocked permanently. Only legal SIM cards will be permitted to ensure rule of law, prevent criminal activities, and stop unethical practices carried out through illegal mobile connections.”
For years, many Rohingyas had been using SIM cards from Bangladeshi and Myanmar mobile networks illegally, raising serious national security concerns. To address this, the interim government initiated discussions in August with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and major mobile operators, which paved the way for the new distribution system.
How the SIMs are issued
Under the new arrangement, Rohingyas are receiving SIM cards using their UNHCR-issued Progress ID numbers since they lack national identity cards. Mobile operators have created a separate number series specifically for Rohingya users.
The UNHCR database will be stored at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Data Centre, and the process is being overseen by the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner’s Office.
In the pilot phase, 10,000 SIM cards are being distributed as part of the government’s controlled communication initiative for the Rohingya population.
