Inter-ministerial meeting to stop illegal financial transactions online

An inter-ministerial meeting on online financial fraud and tackling illegal and unverified financial transactions was held on August 29 at the Department of Posts and Telecommunications conference hall. Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar presided over the meeting.

In the meeting, the type of financial fraud organized online in Bangladesh, use of fake financial websites and apps for illegal financial transactions, inducing people through gambling or betting using social media platforms, process of online illegal financial transactions, and operation of MFS account in the name of fake account holder, through various online activities. Issues related to involvement of various agencies, responsibilities and powers of BTRC, ways to identify criminals involved in online financial fraud and challenges in stopping illegal financial transactions through online are discussed.

Post and Telecommunication Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar, Post and Telecommunication Department Additional Secretary Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Finance Department Additional Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi, Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Md. Ruhul Amin, Digital Security Agency Director General Abu Saeed were present in the meeting. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General of Department of Telecommunication Md. Rafiqul Islam, Director General of Department of Posts Md. Harunur Rashid, Joint Secretary of Public Safety Department ASM Ferdous, Joint Secretary of ICT Department Md. Mehdi Hasan, Joint Secretary of Financial Institutions Department Dr. Nahid Hossain, Director of NTMC Brigadier General Mohammad Baker, Director of NSI Brigadier General Md Shahan Sadi, DGFI representative Col SM Azad, Additional DIG of SB Md Mizanur Rahman, Intelligence Inspectorate representative of Armed Forces Department Captain Sheikh Shahid Ahmed, Deputy Head of BFIU AFM Shahinul Islam and representatives of various government agencies were present. Director General of BTRC Brigadier General Md. Nasim Parvez presented the keynote address at the event.

The Posts and Telecommunications Minister mentioned the need to form a high-level task force with law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, Dhaka Stock Exchange and BTRC with Bangladesh Bank as the lead agency.   He also said that the Department of Posts and Telecommunications is working to create and develop the highway of digital connectivity as a vehicle for Smart Bangladesh.. . The field of digital technology is vast. Stakeholders have an immense role to play in identifying issues and solutions to address existing digital security challenges. A safe online establishment is possible with the joint efforts of all concerned.