Proposal to Shut Down Internet and Abolish NTMC Included in Draft Telecom Ordinance
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has proposed the dissolution of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), an agency long criticized for enabling internet shutdowns, digital surveillance, enforced disappearances, and political repression. The proposal appears in Subsection (k) of Section 97 of the draft Bangladesh Telecommunication Ordinance 2025, published on Tuesday, 4 November, on the ministry’s website.
The draft has been opened for public feedback. Citizens may submit their opinions to the Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications via post or email between 5 and 15 November.
A key provision of the proposed policy explicitly prevents any shutdown or obstruction of internet services. The draft states:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in this law or any other existing law, under no circumstances shall telecommunication connectivity, telecommunication-related services, or the internet be shut down, restricted, or impeded.”
Another section concerning the admissibility of intercepted information clarifies that only data collected through interception authorized by a court or quasi-judicial council may be admitted as evidence. It further states that intelligence-gathering alone does not justify the presentation of such information in court. The origin, integrity, and preservation of the data must be verifiable, and the court or council may review logs or audit records of the Central Lawful Interception Platform if necessary.
Previously, in Section 97(a), the draft addresses digital surveillance by defining “lawful interception” strictly within the framework of legal necessity, proportionality, legitimacy, accountability, specified purpose, and limited time frame. It requires authorization by a court or quasi-judicial council and allows only designated officers to monitor, collect, store, or analyze communications—including human-device communication—messages, location data, call detail records (CDR), internet protocol data records (IPDR), and certain social media data.
Under this provision, lawful interception is limited to five purposes: presenting evidence in court, investigating cognizable offenses, conducting criminal investigations, protecting life, ensuring public safety, and maintaining national security. The draft clearly states:
“No interception shall be conducted for political, ideological, or partisan purposes, nor for repression or retaliation.”
Technology expert and Voice for Reform coordinator Fahim Mashroor welcomed the inclusion of the provision preventing internet shutdowns. However, he urged clearer language on interception and emphasized that the law must explicitly require court approval in order to prevent misuse similar to past surveillance practices.
The proposed Bangladesh Telecommunication Ordinance 2025 consists of 102 sections. After public feedback, a multi-stakeholder meeting will be held next week. According to officials, the draft will then undergo inter-ministerial review, linguistic examination by the Bangla Bhasha Procholon Cell, and scrutiny by the Cabinet Division’s vetting committee. It will subsequently be sent to the Law Ministry for legal vetting, and finally placed before the Advisory Council for approval.
An official involved in the drafting process stated that the ordinance removes the previous frameworks enabling mass surveillance.
“The concept of ‘eavesdropping’ and unrestricted monitoring has been eliminated. Section 97 of the old telecommunication law was misused to justify military-style surveillance on civilians. The new ordinance dismantles this legal basis. After its passage, no military agency will be permitted to conduct interception operations targeting civilians,” the official said.
He added that unauthorized interception will carry strict punishment, regardless of the entity involved.
He further noted:
“Under no circumstance and in no manner shall the internet be shut down. Once stakeholder feedback is complete, the ordinance will move forward to the Advisory Council. The state must now correct the legacy of shutdowns and surveillance that shadowed public life in recent years.”
The proposed ordinance is thus positioned as a pivotal reform intended to safeguard civil liberties, ensure uninterrupted digital connectivity, and restructure lawful interception under transparent judicial oversight.
