The source code of Bangladesh’s National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC) has reportedly been deleted, with password access changed, allegedly by former NTMC Director General (DG) Major General Ziaul Ahsan. The explosive revelation, reported by journalist Maryam Champa of Daily Manab Zamin and citing Ministry of Home Affairs and intelligence sources, follows Ahsan’s dismissal on August 6, as the NTMC’s control systems were said to be dismantled under his directive.
The NTMC, which oversees telecom software access, is currently unable to retrieve key information and call records due to the deleted source code. Authorities have been relying on phone call records (PCR) from telecom operators to maintain operational integrity, though progress has been hindered by restricted data access.
Sources inside NTMC stated that, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure, Major General Ahsan allegedly destroyed critical systems and wiped hardware data to obstruct exposure of sensitive information from the former administration. Intelligence agencies had previously interrogated him regarding the source code, but his responses were evasive, suggesting he had either forgotten or lost access.
Reportedly, Ahsan held key political and military officials, including ex-Prime Minister Hasina’s Defense Advisor Major General (Retd.) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, in a tight grip by leveraging intercepted phone conversations for political influence.
Due to the missing source code, the NTMC’s current operations have reverted to manual data collection from telecom providers, complicating the process and raising privacy concerns. Intelligence officials warn of potential risks, as the lack of a central database could expose sensitive national information to foreign entities, endangering citizens’ private data.
As investigations proceed, the former DG faces further interrogation regarding the alleged sabotage and is expected to be remanded for questioning next week.
