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The 12 Armed Police Battalion (APBn) has recovered 3,165 lost mobile phones and returned them to their rightful owners after investigating around 14,322 general diaries (GDs) over the past 22 months.
The unit said it recovered the phones of various brands from different parts of the country with the help of information technology through its dedicated Cyber and Call Detail Record (CDR) Analysis Branch.
According to a press release issued by 12 APBn, the unit has remained the top-performing APBn unit in recovering lost mobile phones for the past 21 months.
In August 2026 alone, the unit recovered 132 lost mobile phones, it said.
The unit collects GDs filed at police stations across the country concerning lost mobile phones through two dedicated WhatsApp numbers. It also receives information from relatives, friends and acquaintances of phone owners and uses technological tools to trace and recover the devices.
The APBn said its initiative is aimed not only at helping people recover their valuable devices but also at preventing lost or stolen phones from being misused for criminal activities.
A mobile phone registered in a person’s name could potentially create complications for the registered owner if the device or its SIM card is later used in criminal activities, the unit said.
12 APBn advised people to preserve the 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of their mobile phones when purchasing them. The IMEI number can generally be found on the phone’s box or packaging.
If a phone is lost or stolen, the owner should file an online GD with the relevant police station, mentioning the IMEI number.
A copy of the online GD can then be sent to 12 APBn through WhatsApp at 01320-194018 or 01320-194003. The unit’s cyber team will take necessary steps to trace and recover the device.
The GD copy can also be sent through the unit’s official Facebook page.
The recovery operation is being conducted under the overall supervision of 12 APBn Commander Additional DIG Md Enamul Kabir and under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Md Saiful Islam.
The unit said its cyber team uses information technology to trace lost mobile phones reported through GDs and return recovered devices to their rightful owners.