ICT directs NTMC, BTRC to ensure preservation of July uprising digital data

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday directed the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to ensure that no information related to the mass uprising in July and August is deleted and that all digital data is preserved.

At the same time, the ICT ordered all the mobile operating companies of the country to assist its investigation and prosecution teams in probing the genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August uprising across the country.

The three-member tribunal bench led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar passed the order following a petition filed by the prosecution team seeking its orders in this regard.

After the ICT order, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told media, "The data detailing incidents during the mass uprising, which is stored with NTMC and BTRC, is automatically deleted after a certain period."

"The tribunal has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that this crucial data is preserved separately. This is because, in the future, such data from the time of the July-August public uprising may be needed for judicial purposes," the Chief Prosecutor said.

In response to a query, Tajul said that the tribunal's investigation and prosecution teams have the authority under the law to summon any individual or request any information in the interest of the investigation. "Based on this, we filed two separate petitions. 

After hearing our petitions, the ICT issued specific instructions to all mobile operators and BTRC to assist in the investigation process," he added.

Meanwhile, in another order, the ICT summon concerned reporter of Daily Kalbela for writing a report referring to the tribunal order over the submission of wealth statement by 75 influential people of previous Awami League-led government.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said, "A report was published today in daily Kalbela stating the ICT has ordered to submit wealth statements of 75 influential people of the last Awami League government, whereas no such order has been passed by the tribunal. The tribunal today issued a suo moto order, asking the concerned reporter to appear before it on January 20 and give explanation in this regard."