As a last-ditch effort, the cellular phone operators have announced big amounts of cash and prizes to ensure biometric verification of maximum number of SIMs.The operators have initiated the move aiming to keep each of their customers alive, as the government is determined to deactivate the unverified SIMs from the ‘zero hour’ of 1 June.As 31 May, the deadline for completing biometric SIM re-registration, is drawing near, Robi has launched a campaign to encourage its subscribers to comply with the government directive.Every subscriber completing the process from 16 to 31 May will get Taka 50 worth talk-time for free. Besides, it has offered chance of winning Taka 10,000 in every hour during the campaign period, reports BSS.In addition, the operator has announced Taka 10 lakh mega offer for a lucky Robi user during the campaign. The customer who would complete SIM verification during the campaign can win the mega offer.Moreover, it has also offered Taka 1 lakh daily prize for one lucky winner on the basis of re-registration.Talking to BSS, Robi Spokesperson Ekram Kabir said they have introduced the incentive to encourage the customers to comply with the government’s directives in the stipulated time.On the other hand, market leader Grameenphone is offering Smartphone, free talk-time and free internet to encourage the customer for the SIM re-registration.Sayed Talat Kamal, Grameenphone’s head of external communications, in a statement said: ‘We have taken all necessary steps including establishing highest number of re-registration points to facilitate the biometric re-registration. Our customers have responded well and majority has already completed the process. We hope that the rest will do the same by 31 May.’Another operator Banglalink which has second highest subscribers base has also announced cash prize of Taka 10 lakh and other prizes to encourage the customers to complete the biometric verification process.Besides, Airtel Bangladesh is also offering Smartphone and free talk-time.Earlier last week, state minister for post and telecommunications Tarana Halim told newsmen a total of 9.40 crore SIMs were verified biometrically.She cautioned that ‘As per the rescheduled timeframe, verification of SIM using biometric method will be continued till 12:00 midnight of 31 May, but the SIMs remaining unverified will be deactivated from the ‘zero hour’ in the day.’According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Bangladesh has now 13.08 crore mobile phone subscribers.The government has started the process on 16 December last year which was scheduled to end on 30 April, but the time was extended to 31 May following the request of the operators.