FE Report
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers' Association (BMPCA) on Saturday called for the abolition of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), alleging that the agency has been involved in hacking mobile phones and illegally leaking private conversations of citizens.
The demand was made in a statement released to the media on Saturday.
Mohiuddin Ahmed, president of the association, stated, "The activities of the NTMC are unconstitutional. Article 43(b) of the Constitution guarantees the right to privacy in all forms of correspondence and communication. However, this organisation was established in 2013 based on the advice of the controversial and dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan."
Mr Ahmed further alleged that the NTMC has primarily focused on intercepting phone conversations and deploying various apps to spy on and monitor citizens' communications over the internet.
He claimed that the agency has harassed numerous upstanding citizens by recording their phone conversations and even video calls.
The statement also accused the NTMC of using sophisticated equipment, such as the Bikal Mountain Data Interceptor, to eavesdrop on phone calls.
Additionally, reports in various media outlets have suggested that the NTMC purchased Pegasus spyware from Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Israel.
The spyware was allegedly sent to phone users via malware, and once installed without the user's knowledge, the device would come under NTMC's control, enabling the agency to access all activities of the citizens.
These actions, the statement argued, are in direct violation of citizens' rights to personal data protection and the Constitution, as well as being a breach of human rights.
The association emphasised the need to abolish the NTMC to ensure the protection of citizens' personal data and uphold constitutional rights.
The statement also claimed that billions of taka have been embezzled in the name of purchasing illegal equipment by this organisation.
The association announced plans to submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser, demanding the dissolution of the NTMC.
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