The Bangladesh government is taking steps to reduce the prices of legally imported mobile phones while intensifying efforts to curb the trade of illegal and cloned handsets. Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, announced that initiatives are underway to simplify mobile and SIM registration, de-registration, and re-registration processes. He emphasized that illegal phones are linked to various crimes, including SIM fraud, online scams, tax evasion, and cross-border smuggling. To support consumers, the government has requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to consider reducing import duties and urged local manufacturers to lower prices. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is also working to make registration easier and ensure that all active phones before December 16 are recognized as legal. Authorities reaffirmed that only legally imported or locally produced phones will be allowed in the market, with strict action planned against smuggling and digital crimes tied to illegal devices.