The government has approved the final draft of the Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which provides for the dissolution of the much-discussed National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and the formation of a new quasi-judicial council to ensure accountability in phone interception.
In place of the NTMC, a new body named the Centre for Information Support (CIS) will be established, which will conduct interception activities only with the approval of the quasi-judicial council. At the same time, a new clause has been added to the approved draft ordinance stating that internet or telecommunications services can never be shut down.
The draft amendment to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Ordinance was approved at a meeting of the Advisory Council held yesterday at the Chief Adviser’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Following the meeting, a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Office outlined the amendments included in the draft ordinance.
According to the press release, approval of the amendment proposals aims to improve the quality of telecommunications services and bring constructive changes to regulation and the state surveillance framework. Various groups had been protesting against the law for some time.
Although the matter was placed before the Advisory Council two weeks ago, it was not approved then. After revisions in response to objections on several issues, the draft has now received the government’s green signal. The press release provided a brief overview of the proposed provisions, including the clause that internet or telecommunications services can never be shut down.
Moving away from the framework of the “controversial 2010 amendment,” the independence and accountability of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) have been ensured.
A balance has been introduced between the powers and scope of the ministry and the BTRC. Previously, approval for issuing all licenses came from the ministry; now, the ministry will be responsible for approving a limited number of nationally important licenses based on independent studies, while authority to issue all other licenses has been returned to the BTRC.
In addition, an “Accountability Committee” has been formed, chaired by the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on posts and telecommunications.
The time required from license application to decision-making has been reduced. High fines and recurring penalties included in the previous law have also been lowered, which, according to the press release, will make the telecommunications sector more investment-friendly.
Regarding the amendments, the press release states that the BTRC will now be required to hold public hearings every four months, publish follow-up actions on its website, and provisions have been included to prevent conflicts of interest.
Using SIM and device registration data to surveil or harass any citizen without justification has been made a punishable offense. Restrictive clauses related to “speech offences” have been amended, and in line with the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, only calls for violence have been brought under the scope of criminal offense. Provisions for appeal and arbitration in telecommunications services have also been included.
The press release further states that the definition and scope of lawful interception (phone tapping) have been clearly and comprehensively specified in the law. For judicial and emergency lawful interception needs only, the Centre for Information Support (CIS) has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It must be operated strictly in accordance with the standards of the Personal Data Protection Ordinance. Through the described amendments, the draft proposes the abolition of the NTMC.
For purposes of national security, law and order, emergency life-saving needs, judicial or investigative requirements, and cross-border matters, lawful interception may be carried out by following clearly defined procedures.
Only specific agencies explicitly mentioned in the law will be permitted to do so, and only within their respective jurisdictions. Interception activities cannot be conducted through the CIS without role-based access control and approval from the quasi-judicial council. The newly formed CIS itself will not conduct interception operations; it will only provide technical and supervisory support.
