National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2008–present |
| Motto | Country First - সবার আগে দেশ |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent department | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Website | ntmc |
The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre is a national-level intelligence agency of Bangladesh responsible for monitoring, collecting, and recording information and communication data. It is also responsible for the interception of electronic communication such as phone calls, emails, and social media accounts.[1][2][3]
History
The National Monitoring Centre was established in 2008 under the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. On 31 January 2013, the National Monitoring Centre was reorganized as an independent agency named National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, and Brigadier General Ibne Fazal Sayekhuzzaman was appointed its founding director. The centre moved from its office from headquarters of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence in Dhaka Cantonment to its own purpose built headquarters on 1 January 2017. Its technology was updated on 6 April 2017. Brigadier General Ziaul Ahsan was made the director of the centre on 6 March 2017.[4][5] The government approved the purchase of 2.36 billion taka worth of equipment for the centre to increase its monitoring ability.[6][7] On 21 July 2022, a new post was created as director general (DG) and existing Director Ziaul Ahsan promoted to major general, and he became the first DG of NTMC.
Head of NTMC
Director
| Name | Time Period | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Brigadier General Ibne Fazal Sayekhuzzaman | 31 January 2013 - 5 March 2017 | Founding Director |
| Brigadier General Ziaul Ahsan | 6 March 2017 - 20 July 2022 | Last Director at NTMC, after that this post upgraded to Director General as a Grade - 1 post with 2 star Major General |
| Name | Time Period | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Major General Ziaul Ahsan | 21 July 2022 - 6 August 2024 | On 21 July 2022, got promoted to Major General and became the first Director General |
| Major General Ridwanur Rahman | 6 August 2024 - 14 October 2024 | |
| Major General Abdul Qayoom Mollah | 15 October 2024 - 9 Nov 2025 | |
| Major General Mohammad Osman Sarwar | 10 Nov 2025 - Present |
References
- ^ "NTMC". ntmc.gov.bd. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "NTMC to tighten monitoring". Bangladesh Post. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Social media to come under surveillance". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "NTMC". ntmc.gov.bd. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Bangladesh govt begins monitoring phone calls". Gulf Times. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Govt purchasing more tools for surveillance". The Daily Star. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Bangladesh government to arm phone-tapping agency with new tools, staffing". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 27 March 2019.