Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has warned that the potential deployment of highly efficient Israeli surveillance technology by government agencies without any specific guidelines would seriously threaten freedom of speech in the country.
In a press statement, the anti-graft watchdog has expressed grave concern at a recent report published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz that the controversial company Passitora, controlled by former senior Israeli military intelligence officer Tal Dilian, sold surveillance devices in June last year to a government agency. The equipment arrived in the country in June last year.
Previously an Israeli startup, the company is now registered in Cyprus and sold a SpearHead – a van that can hack into phones within a half-a-kilometre radius – to the home ministry’s National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).
In response to the Haaretz report, a senior home ministry official told a national daily that, “The ministry had no scope to procure any items ‘directly’ from Israel, but the government definitely wanted to upgrade its surveillance system to protect the nation and its ‘security.'”
“We need to see whether these technologies are being abused or not,” the official said.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said such comments do not deny that the equipment is of Israeli-origin. Many Israeli surveillance companies are widely believed to be behind global eavesdropping activities that violate human rights.
Iftekharuzzaman further questioned the stated use for national security purposes, saying so far surveillance conducted almost certainly by law enforcers and specialised government agencies on political activists, political dissenters, journalists and others reflect a trend that covers more than simply national security.
Phone-call leaks over the last couple of years and other activities most likely conducted by government agencies rather imply arbitrary usage of surveillance technologies.
Transparency International demanded avoiding the use of the Israeli technology before any specific policy is outlined and adopted through consultations with all concerned stakeholders. Otherwise, people’s constitutional rights to speak freely and dissent remain at risk.
The organisation also said the people reserves the right to get a full explanation over the purchase of the sensitive Israeli technology.
Transparency International also asked about the policies that were followed to use taxpayers’ money to purchase the Israeli technology worth Tk60 crore(US$5.64million).
Eminent researchers submit papers for AL’s international seminar on 4IR
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said present Bangladesh under the prudent and farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on the right track towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“We have already been connected with the 4IR as we have started generating competent workforces with successful promotion and expansion of the ICT sector,” he told the inaugural function of Star Cineplex here yesterday as the chief guest.
The cineplex has been constructed at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-tech Park with 172 seats besides an eye-catching environment, a sound system with ultramodern technology and a giant screen.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority Bikarna Kumar Ghosh and Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park, Rajshahi Project Fazlul Hoque also spoke on the occasion.
Dr. Mahmud said the 4iR will be the era of ICT, robotics and artificial intelligence and the present Bangladesh isn’t far behind that.
Highlighting the significance of Cineplex, he opined that mental refreshment and some amusement are essential after daylong engagement in technology.
He also said there is a plan of establishing 100 Cineplex throughout the country and 20 of those have already been done.
In his remarks, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said Sajeeb Wazed Joy intended to build an affordable, energetic, knowledgeable and smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Side by side with showing cinema, the Cineplex will be used for the purposes of project training and audio-visual by the entities concerned.
On December 12, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated Bangabandhu Museum, Joy Silicon Tower and the Cineplex at the hi-tech park.
Eighty-eight percent works of the park have so far been completed and more six months are needed to complete the total work.
There are two portions- Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Building and Sajeeb Wazed Joy Silicon Tower- in the park.
Construction works of the Sheikh Kamal IT Incubation and Training Centre were completed last year, while the Joy Silicon Tower is now in the final stage, he said.
He added that the park has been built on around 31 acres of land in the Nabinagar area adjacent to the Rajshahi metropolis aimed at establishing knowledge-based IT industries together with ensuring an area-based development.
Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority is implementing the Taka 335.51-crore project initiated by the Information and Communication Technology Division.
Employment opportunities for around 14,000 youths both male and female will be created upon the successful completion of the project by December 2022.
Govt to introduce ‘lawful system’ to monitor social media: Home minister
The government has taken initiative to introduce an “Integrated Lawful Interception System (ILIS)” in a bid to monitor social media platforms and thwart various anti-state and anti-government activities, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said Thursday.
The home minister divulged the matter in parliament while replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League lawmaker from Dhaka-10 Md Shafiul Islam, reports UNB.
Shafiul wanted to know whether the government will increase vigilance to thwart local and foreign conspiracies inside the country.
In reply, the home minister said law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working relentlessly to thwart any kind of conspiracy against the country.
“Besides, modern technology like Open Source Intelligence Technology (OSINT) has been included in the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre to prevent different anti-state and anti-government activities through monitoring social media platforms on the Internet,” he said.
Asaduzzaman said efforts were also made to introduce the ILIS in this regard.
Govt to take control of NIDs
Replying to a question from an opposition lawmaker, The home minister also said the government is working to bring the process of national identity card registration and all relevant tasks under its direct control as it is a practical step followed by almost all other countries.
The Election Commission has no role in the national identity card management other than registering voters, but people need the cards for many other reasons including bank account opening, job applications, utility service connections, availing numerous government benefits and more.
Furthermore, all Bangladeshi nationals and not just those aged over 18 need the cards.
Thus, instead of keeping national identity cards
under the Election Commission’s mandate, the government should take direct control over them.
The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry is set to oversee national identity card management once all the necessary procedures are completed, he clarified.
He said the army was tasked with preparing a voter list in 2007. As a by-product of the project national identity card registrations were started. But, as the scope of using a national identity card has increased manifold since then, it is no longer sensible to keep them under the Election Commission, the minister hinted.
