Chief Adviser orders stronger cyber security ahead of polls

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed the National Cyber Security Agency to ensure comprehensive cyber security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum.

He gave the directive while chairing a meeting of the National Cyber Security Council at the state guest house Jamuna on Sunday, December 28.

The chief adviser said technological capacity must be further strengthened in view of the election and that all forms of cybercrime must be dealt with strictly. He noted that government services were gradually being shifted to online platforms and said strong cyber security was essential to ensure uninterrupted and secure delivery of services at home and abroad.

He instructed relevant sectors involved in citizen services to prioritise cyber protection and emphasised regular updates of software and hardware, along with skill development of personnel involved in cyber security.

Professor Yunus also said a rating system should be introduced to assess the effectiveness of cyber security measures and identify strengths and weaknesses. He instructed the agency to work closely with the judiciary to ensure cyber criminals, particularly in the financial sector, do not escape punishment.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Faiz Ahmed Taiyab said 35 institutions had already been listed as Critical Information Infrastructure and suggested adding more.

The meeting also stressed stronger coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and BTRC to prevent cybercrimes, including rumours, misinformation and disinformation surrounding the election.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said several initiatives were already underway to strengthen cyber security in the banking sector and praised efforts to establish sectoral CERTs.