Dhaka: As the move to collect biometric information from mobile phone users through SIM registration has drawn flak over security concerns, the country’s telecom regulator has asked all the mobile telecom operators to assure protection of the data given by their respective subscribers.

The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) came up with the directive in a letter sent to the mobile telecom operators. A copy of the letter has also been sent to Posts and Telecommunication Ministry, according to official sources.

In the letter, the BTRC directed the operators to preserve mobile phone users’ biometric data only to Operators Biometric Verification Platform and to Central Biometric Verification Monitoring Platform.

In order to register a SIM card through this system, the subscribers have to give fingerprints, personal information according to their national identity cards to their respective mobile phone operators.

Mobile phone operators have been collecting the users’ data in association with some foreign organisations through thousands of retailers and agents across the country.

However, many have expressed concerns that biometric data, provided to some foreign companies, might violate their privacy as well as be used for criminal activities.

Besides, they alleged the collection of such information might hamper the security and safety to the country’s people and there is a huge risk that the database can be leaked to the international criminal network.

Meanwhile, a man, Khairul Hasan Sarkar, has sent a legal notice to 11 entities, including the Posts and Telecommunications Secretary, the Law Secretary and mobile phone operators, asking them to stop the registration process as early as possible.

In the notice, the biometric registration system has been termed illegal, harmful and risky.

Contacted, Posts and Telecommunication Secretary Foyjur Rahman Chowdhury said there is no chance for the retailers to preserve the data of the subscribers. “A group of people have been spreading rumor saying the biometric process will invade the privacy of people,” he said while talking to UNB.

Although there is a directive to the mobile phone operators not to charge fees for the registration process, the retailers, however, have been taking fees—ranging from Tk 10-50 -- from the subscribers violating the government order, causing huge disinterest among people towards the registration process.

In the letter, the BTRC also asked the all six mobile phone operators to take stern action to stop this unauthorised practice.

The BTRC also directed the operators to publish and publicise relevant advertisements in the print and electronic media, aiming to encourage people to register their SIM cards.

Some officials of some mobile phone operators, wishing anonymity, said there is no chance for the subscribers’ data to be smuggled out as fingerprints have been collected in order to verify the NID only.

The government introduced the biometric system of registering SIM cards on December 16 last year with a view to curbing cybercrimes, terrorism and militancy in the country.