BMPCA demands abolition of NTMC
The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association-BMPCA has demanded the abolition of the controversial National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), which has been accused of snooping on citizens' mobile phones, keeping devices under surveillance, blocking Facebook-Messenger, X, Telegram, Viber, IMO and Skype and even blocking websites and emails.
In a statement sent to the media on Saturday, the president of BMPCA, Mohiuddin Ahmed, said that the activities of this organization are against the constitution. Article 43 (b) of the Constitution guarantees the right to privacy of correspondence and all means of communication. However, this organization was formed in 2013 on the advice of the recently dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan.
'Basically, this organization has done no other work than intercepting and monitoring the citizen's communication, as well as intercepting phone call records, Internet and various apps. The NTMC also forced mobile operators to deliver messages to subscribers. This organization has harassed many noble citizens by recording phone conversations and even video calling.
Even Mobile Interceptor like BCAL Mountain was used by this organization. Even the fact that Pegasus Spyware was purchased for NTMC from Mossad, the controversial Israeli intelligence agency despite not having any diplomatic relations with Israel. It was reported many a times in the domestic and foreign media and internationally. We protested this and asked for an investigation. Although the government said that such equipment was not purchased from Israel,' he added.
The BMPCA president said that the Pegasus Spyware app was sent to the customer through malware by NTMC. If many customers installed it without proper understanding, the device used by the customer would immediately come under the control of the NTMC. In this way, this controversial organization used to capture the information of all the activities of the citizens.
Such activities are completely against the protection of personal information of citizens and against the Constitution. As well as violation of human rights.
He also said, therefore, in order to protect the personal information of the citizens while upholding the nation and the constitution, the abolition of such organizations is the demand and necessity of the time. Moreover, a huge amount of money has been looted in the name of buying illegal equipment for this organization. We, on behalf of the citizens and in the interest of our customer's personal information and security demand the abolition of this organization- NTMC to the interim government. We expect to file a memorandum with the Chief Advisor on this within a day or two.
