Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today directed the National Cyber Security Agency to ensure all types of cyber security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections and the referendum. ‘Centering the upcoming elections, we have to enhance our information technology capabilities and strictly combat all types of cybercrime,’ he said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prof Yunus, who also serves as the chairman of the National Cyber Security Council, gave the directives while presiding over a meeting of the Council at the State Guest House Jamuna, as stated by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this afternoon. He emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to bring citizen services to online platforms, highlighting that many services are already available online both domestically and internationally.
To ensure these services remain secure and uninterrupted, Prof Yunus stressed the importance of strengthening cyber security. He instructed relevant authorities to focus on sectors providing citizen services and recommended that organizations, including cyber security agencies, regularly update their software and hardware. Additionally, he suggested enhancing the efficiency of the manpower associated with these systems.
Prof Yunus proposed a rating system for organizations and personnel involved in cyber security, to facilitate accurate evaluation of an organization’s security measures. He also mandated the National Cyber Security Agency to collaborate with the judiciary to ensure no leniency for those involved in financial sector crimes.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, informed the meeting that 35 institutions have already been enlisted as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and recommended expanding this list. He emphasized the need for coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to prevent cybercrimes, including spreading rumors and misinformation, during the upcoming elections.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur noted that several measures have been implemented to bolster cyber security in the banking sector, with additional initiatives underway. He also lauded the establishment of sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT).
Member Secretary of the National Cyber Security Council and Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency, Dr Md Taibur Rahman, presented a PowerPoint briefing detailing the agency’s activities, future plans, and the ‘Cyber Incident Reporting and Response System’ developed to handle cyberspace crime complaints.
The meeting was attended by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam, and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, among others.
Following the promulgation of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 on May 21, the National Cyber Security Council was formed on August 26 to ensure cyber security for state institutions and citizens under the amended ordinance. The 25-member council is led by the Chief Adviser of the interim government.