CA Yunus Orders Cyber Security Boost Before National Elections

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed Bangladesh’s National Cyber Security Agency to ensure robust cyber defences ahead of the country’s 13th parliamentary elections and the planned referendum.

“Centred on the forthcoming elections, we have to enhance our information technology capabilities and strictly combat all types of cybercrime,” he said on Sunday (December 28).

Yunus, who also serves as chairman of the National Cyber Security Council, issued the directives while presiding over a meeting of the council at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka, according to the chief adviser’s press wing.

He added that the government is working to bring all types of citizen services onto digital platforms, with many already being delivered online both at home and abroad.

“To ensure these services remain secure and uninterrupted, it is essential to strengthen cyber security,” Yunus said, instructing the authorities concerned to place special emphasis on sectors that provide citizen services.

He said organisations, including cyber security agencies, must adopt appropriate safeguards and regularly update both software and hardware. At the same time, personnel responsible for these systems would need to be made more efficient and better trained. 

Yunus further proposed introducing a rating system for institutions and relevant staff so that the state of an organisation’s cyber security can be more accurately assessed.

He also directed the National Cyber Security Agency to work effectively alongside the judiciary to ensure that no one involved in cybercrimes in the financial sector goes unpunished.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the chief adviser’s special assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, told the meeting that 35 institutions have so far been designated as critical information infrastructure, and suggested that more be added to the list.

He stressed the need for close coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to curb rumours, misinformation, disinformation and other cybercrimes surrounding the elections.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said several measures had already been taken to strengthen cyber security in the banking sector, with further initiatives under way. He also welcomed the move to establish sectoral computer emergency response teams (CERTs).

Md Taibur Rahman, member secretary of the National Cyber Security Council and director general of the National Cyber Security Agency, gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the agency’s activities, future plans and details of the “Cyber Incident Reporting and Response System” developed to receive and process complaints related to crimes committed in cyberspace.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan were among those present.

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 headed by the chief adviser of the interim government.