Published on 12:00 AM, February 21, 2019

NTMC will soon be able to block anti-govt propaganda

The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) disclosed that a system titled “Content Blocking and Filtering System” is now being implemented to block and filter contents used for criminal activities using the internet, while Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan visited the office of NTMC in Dhaka on February 20, 2019. Photo: Collected

The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) will soon be able to block and filter anti-government propaganda and other content to be used for criminal activities on the internet.

Officials at NTMC yesterday said a “Content Blocking and Filtering System” is now being implemented.

The NTMC made the disclosure during the visit of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and chiefs of different law enforcement and intelligence agencies. 

NTMC, which began its operation on January 1, 2017, has been monitoring all telecommunication service providers round the clock. Besides, work is on to implement Integrated Lawful Interception System (ILIS), the officials added.

NTMC, with the help of Facebook authorities, has closed 1,479 fake Facebook IDs, including 752 which were operating under the name of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 141 used for militant activities.

It also shut down 54 websites used to spread fake news and militancy, 288 fake Facebook pages, and 28 fake Facebook groups.

A meeting with the home minister and chiefs of law enforcement and intelligence agencies was also held where Director of NTMC Brig Gen Ziaul Ahsan put forward a set of demands.

The minister also said a proposal for setting up a central data hub in NTMC will be implemented following approval from the prime minister.