SB HQ 'unaware'

 
The headquarters of the police's Special Branch (SB) has been left "completely in the dark" about field-level operatives knocking on journalists' doors or phoning them to demand extensive personal data, including their political affiliations.

The intelligence agency's chief, Additional Inspector General of Police Sardar Nurul Amin, suspects that some personnel might be conducting these intrusive inquiries on their own individual initiative.

Over the past few days, several working journalists in Dhaka reported receiving visits or phone calls from individuals identifying themselves as SB operatives.

These agents have been demanding highly sensitive personal information, including social media profile links or IDs, national identity card copies and utility bill invoices, as well as direct disclosures of their political leanings.

A form circulating on social media purportedly from the City Special Branch seeking such information has added to the furore, drawing sharp reactions from press freedom advocates.

Media leaders strongly condemned the practice through communication outlets, pointing out that intelligence agencies possess absolutely no legal jurisdiction or authority to investigate the political backgrounds of professional journalists.

Some have called it a "dangerous precedent" and demanded the data collection exercise be stopped immediately.

SB chief Nurul he only learned about the matter through third-party accounts. "I have sent it for verification. I am looking at it." Asked if it was still ongoing, he said: "No. I'm trying to find out who did this and whether someone did it individually." When asked whether any official directive had been issued from his end, he said no.