94 eminent citizens call for abolition of NTMC

Ninety-four eminent citizens have called for the complete abolition of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and the swift approval of the Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance to ensure accountability.

They argue that any move to reinstate a surveillance framework centered on the Ministry of Home Affairs would contradict the spirit of the mass uprising and pose a serious threat to civil liberties.

In a joint statement, the signatories said that while judicial, reform, and electoral processes are underway, stakeholders’ opinions are being ignored in the drafting of new ordinances and amendments to existing laws.

They noted that evidence of NTMC’s involvement in long-standing human rights violations, unlawful and unchecked surveillance, and enforced disappearances has been documented in court proceedings and in reports by the government-formed commission on enforced disappearances—prompting the demand for its complete dissolution.

The statement also expressed concern over divisions within the government regarding NTMC’s abolition.

According to media reports, a draft law has been prepared proposing three new names for NTMC, retreating from plans for comprehensive surveillance reform and doing so without meaningful public participation or consultation.

The signatories stressed that post-uprising Bangladesh must not revert to the practices of previous regimes. They said there should be no scope for shutting down, disrupting, or restricting internet access, and called for dismantling NTMC, which they described as complicit in crimes against humanity and repression.

They further demanded that provisions to prosecute officials empowered to conduct communications surveillance be retained in the ordinance.

The statement was signed by, among others, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, economist Anu Muhammad, writer Salimullah Khan, human rights activist Nur Khan Liton, novelist Moinul Ahsan Saber, Professor Kamrul Hasan Mamun, researcher Rakhal Raha, Professor Fahmidul Haq, and expatriate journalist Maskwaith Ahsan.