The trial run of biometric registration system for mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards was inaugurated today.

Prime minister's ICT affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy ran his thumb across a biometric register and purchased a SIM card during the opening ceremony.

The inaugural was held at the Post and Telecommunications Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Mobile operators will use the biometric system to verify a customer's fingerprint against the Election Commission's database for SIM purchase.

The pilot run for this initiative will be launched from November 1 and its official launching will be from December 16, said Tarana Halim, state minister for post and telecommunications ministry.

The government hopes biometric registration and re-registration process for 13 crore mobile phone subscribers will be complete by March next year.