Report on reviewing procurement, use of surveillance technology submitted to Yunus

The high-powered "Committee to Review the Procurement and Use of Surveillance Technology," formed by the interim government, submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (10 February).

According to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing, the report reviews the legal and technical aspects of the state's surveillance capabilities and their limitations, and proposes eight recommendations based on eight standards to ensure national security, emergency life-saving, public safety, and judicial necessity while protecting citizens' constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

The report aims to identify structural risks, governance gaps, and areas requiring reform within the surveillance system.

Based on evidence-driven and comparative policy analysis, it proposes a modern, transparent, and accountable surveillance framework, including an audit-driven "two-layer transparency model," aligned with global standards.

It was prepared in the context of allegations of serious human rights violations, enforced disappearances, and unlawful detention, alongside the state's success in crime control and counter-terrorism through surveillance.

Drawing on guidance from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), international practices, human rights standards, and Bangladesh's administrative capacity, the committee recommended abolishing the NTMC and outlined a roadmap to reform Sections 97, 97 (Ka), 97 (Kha), and 97 (Ga) of the Telecommunication Act, 2001.

However, the interim government has already gazetted an amended version of the law.

The committee also proposed further state investigations, saying the report seeks to frame state security and citizens' rights as complementary rather than contradictory.