Bangladesh Anti-Terror Police Officials Allegedly Sell Classified Information
Senior officials working for the anti-terror police in Bangladesh have been accused of collecting and selling classified and personal information of citizens to criminals on the messaging app Telegram. The allegations include selling national identity details, cell phone call records, and other classified secret information. The accusations were made in a letter signed by a senior Bangladeshi intelligence official and addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs Public Security Division. The letter claims that the two police agents accessed and passed extremely sensitive information of private citizens on Telegram in exchange for money.
The two officials involved in the alleged scheme have not been named, and it is unclear if they have been charged under the country’s legal system. However, investigations are ongoing, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the affected police organizations to take necessary action against the officers involved.
The National Telecommunications Monitoring Center (NTMC), Bangladesh’s electronic eavesdropping agency, is responsible for monitoring all telecommunications traffic and intercepting phone and web communications to detect and prevent threats to national security. The NTMC runs the National Intelligence Platform (NIP), an internal government web portal that holds classified citizen information. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have user accounts on the NIP portal provided by the NTMC.
Critics, including organizations like Human Rights Watch and Freedom House, have raised concerns about the lack of safeguards against abuses by the NTMC. The agency has procured sophisticated surveillance technology from companies in Israel and other Western countries, enabling mass surveillance of opposition party members, journalists, civil society members, and activists.
The investigation into the alleged sale of classified information revealed that the two police agents accessed and collected information that was not relevant to them on the NIP platform. The letter also mentioned the existence of Telegram channels, including one called BD CYBER GANG, which was believed to be involved in the illegal activity.
While investigations are ongoing, the suspended access of all NIP users from the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and Rapid Action Battalion 6 (RAB 6) has been confirmed. The two agents have been notified of the investigation, and their access has been suspended until proper action is taken.
This incident is potentially more damaging than previous cases of data exposure in Bangladesh. Last year, the NTMC was found to be leaking people’s personal information on an unsecured server, and another government agency leaked citizens’ sensitive data. However, in this latest incident, the agents allegedly sold information online, attempting to profit from their privileged access to classified personal information.
Despite ongoing investigations, there are reports that other officials within the government are still offering to sell citizens’ data. This highlights the need for stronger safeguards and stricter regulations to protect citizens’ privacy and prevent the misuse of classified information.
