Rohingya refugees seen using cell phones freely near camp areas. Cell phone companies are not following registration rules. The picture was taken from Leda Rohingya camp in Teknaf on Tuesday. Photo: Gias Uddin
Certain Rohingyas recently entering Bangladesh are buying SIM cards without registration.
They are purchasing the SIM cards with the help of their local relatives.
According to the UN migration agency, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), some 415,000 Rohingyas fled from the Rakhine state into Bangladesh since 25 August 2017, due to the persecution faced there.
SIMs are sold randomly in Teknaf town.
Cell phones are available with Rohingya men and women in different areas including Leda, Nayapara, Putibunia, Kutupalang of Ukhia and Balkhali.
Abdul Karim is a distributor of a cell phone company in Teknaf. He is also general secretary of Teknaf Bus Terminal Business Association.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Abdul Karim said a number of cell phone companies are selling SIMs without national identity cards. It must be stopped now, he added.
The sellers, however, denied supplying SIM cards without seeing national ID cards. They also said Rohingyas are buying SIMs with the help of their local relatives. Sellers admit sales have gone up.
Upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Zahid Hossain Siddique and deputy commander of BGB-2 major Shariful Islam said they have found cell phones with Rohingyas who recently entered Bangladesh. They said they will look into the matter.
Source: Prothom Alo
