Specialised Police Unit: TIB calls for formulating guidelines

The Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday called for formulating a set of guidelines before a specialised police unit starts operation to combat cyber crimes in a few months.

Experts and stakeholders should be included in the process to formulate the guidelines, the TIB said in a press statement.

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Taking lesson from the global experience is a must, it said.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said they learnt from the media that the government took an initiative to form a specialised police unit, which will be equipped with modern software, to mine any remarks or postings in social media that are defamatory, offensive and can hurt religious sentiment.

Combating and preventing cyber crimes are a global problem and Bangladesh was no exception. So effective surveillance is crucial to control and prevent such crimes, he said.

However, there is a risk of violation of people's freedom of speech and expression, as guaranteed by the constitution, if the law enforcers, who will be involved in such surveillance, lack skill, honesty, professionalism and impartiality, he said.

Especially, such surveillance can be risky and suicidal if the unit fails to discharge its duties remaining beyond political and administrative influence as well as irregularities and corruption, he added.

He said people's freedom of speech and expression has already shrunk due to misuse of section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act. That is why the law and the information ministers said the section would be scrapped.

“These promise must be fulfilled immediately,” he said.

At the same time, before the special unit starts operation, formulation of a guideline, close observation, accountability and internal control must be established to ensure impartiality, objectivity and professionalism of the unit, he said.

The Daily Star on January 7 ran a report about the specialised police unit, which has already been approved by the home ministry and is expected to start operations in a few months.