Staff Correspondent

The interim government has formed a committee to look into the whole issue of the surveillance equipment purchased during the Awami League regime and unearth how that equipment were used to undermine the citizens’ rights.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb will lead the committee.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam made the disclosure while briefing reporters on Thursday at the Foreign Service Academy after the Council of Advisers’ meeting.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were also present.

Press Secretary Alam referred to media reports and briefly said how the autocratic government undermined people’s rights and freedom of speech through illegal surveillance.

“A committee has been formed to look into how much money was spent and from where that equipment was purchased and how those equipment were used. The whole issue will be looked into,” he said.

Alam said the government will also look into the purchase of lethal weapons by the police. “An investigation is being conducted into it to know how these lethal weapons were procured and used.”

Between 2016 and 2024, the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), police and Rab collectively purchased surveillance equipment worth over Tk 1,382 crore, media reported quoting import data and a contract agreement.

The meeting of the Council of Advisers was held at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.