7 points demanded for the Security of Citizens’ information
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association-BMPCA and Bangladesh General Citizens Society have demanded that the persons who are in charge of cyber protection and security must refrain from doing business or outside in the country, the Digital Security Act must be cancelled and bringing CIRT under accountability as well as taking legal action against the individuals who failed to ensure cyber security.
On Saturday (July 22, 2023) in the morning, seven points of demands were presented in front of Dhaka Reporters Unity from the joint initiative of both the organizations.
The program was presided over by the president of the organization Mohiuddin Ahmed. President of Bangladesh Mobile Traders Recharge Association Aminul Islam Bulu, member of the Presidium of Mass Solidarity Movement Bachchu, Chairman of Justice Party Abul Kashem Majumdar, President of Phul Pakhi Nadi Organization Delwar Hossain, General Secretary of the organization Abu Bakkar Siddique, Central Member Dr. Aminul Islam, Office Secretary Sheikh Farid and others.
While speaking as the President, Mohiuddin Ahmed said that on July 9, the main headlines of all the media in the country were about the leaking of information of 50 million citizens of Bangladesh. All these reports say that the names, addresses, e-mail addresses of millions or 50 million citizens were leaked from the website of a very important organization providing government services. Phone numbers, parents’ name, personal important information and some other important personal information were leaked.
In view of this news, there is extreme panic in the minds of the citizens. In our country, there are already instances of misusing technology and misappropriation of information to common people. Customers who avail mobile banking services are suffering the most. Whereas Article 43 (b) of our Constitution gives every citizen the right to keep letters and other communications confidential. It is also stated in international human rights that customer or citizen information should be kept confidential and even if the information is leaked or hacked, it should be informed to public and private institutions as well as citizens to make them aware.
Unfortunately, on June 27, an American cyber security analyst named Victor Mark Poulos of an organization responsible for the government informed CIRT, the state agency of Bangladesh engaged in cyber security. Actions should have been taken against CIRT immediately. CIRT was supposed to inform the matter to the forces engaged in the security of the state, the Home Ministry, public and private institutions as well as the citizens concerned. But they kept it a secret from the public. When the matter is published through any medium, the Information Technology Minister admitted that due to technical error, the information was being seen from the website of a service organization number 27 of the government. But the matter was not informed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Later, a two-member inquiry committee was formed, but even after a month has passed, no person or organization involved in this incident has been brought under the law. We thought that the government would take punitive action against the minister in charge of the technology ministry and the institution involved in the incident due to negligence in fulfilling the constitutional duty. But instead of punishment, they were rewarded with a project worth Tk. 500 million. May be the government has approved this scheme of security hand. But we want punitive action to be taken against the individuals and institutions involved in negligence of duty as well as security.
