National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Explained

Unit Name:National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre
Dates:2008–present
Motto:Country First - সবার আগে দেশ
Website:http://www.ntmc.gov.bd
Commander1:Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman
Commander1 Label:Director General

National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre is a national-level intelligence agency of Bangladesh responsible for monitoring, collecting, and recording information and communication data. It is also responsible for the interception of electronic communication such as phone calls, emails, and social media accounts.[1] [2] [3]

History

National Monitoring Centre was established in 2008 under Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. On 31 January 2013, National Monitoring Centre was reorganized as an independent agency named National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre and Brigadier General Ibne Fazal Sayekhuzzaman was appointed its founding director. The centre moved from its office from headquarters of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence in Dhaka Cantonment to its own purpose built headquarters on 1 January 2017. Its technology was updated on 6 April 2017. Brigadier General Ziaul Ahsan was made the director of the centre on 6 March 2017.[4] [5] The government approved the purchase of 2.36 billion taka worth of equipment purchase for the centre to increase its monitoring ability.[6] [7] On 21 July, 2022 a new post has been created as Director General (DG) and existing Director Ziaul Ahsan promoted to major general and he become the first DG of NTMC.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NTMC . ntmc.gov.bd . 27 March 2019.
  2. News: NTMC to tighten monitoring . 27 March 2019 . Bangladesh Post . 20 February 2019.
  3. News: Social media to come under surveillance . 27 March 2019 . The Independent . Dhaka.
  4. Web site: NTMC . ntmc.gov.bd . 27 March 2019.
  5. News: Bangladesh govt begins monitoring phone calls . 27 March 2019 . Gulf Times . 28 August 2013.
  6. News: Govt purchasing more tools for surveillance . 27 March 2019 . The Daily Star . 13 June 2018 . en.
  7. News: Bangladesh government to arm phone-tapping agency with new tools, staffing . 27 March 2019 . bdnews24.com.