SIM registration

Legal notice to stop biometric system

A legal notice was served yesterday instructing the authorities concerned to stop biometric registration for SIM cards of some mobile operators within two days. It has been sent by barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab, a Supreme Court lawyer, on behalf of Khairul Hasan Sarker of Segun Bagicha in Dhaka.
The notice mentions that biometric data/fingerprint is the most sensitive, secret, private, inviolable, uninfringeable and confidential information of the people. Therefore, collection of such information by mobile operators, who are not part of any public body, is serious violation of fundamental rights of the people to privacy and freedom, as guaranteed by the Constitution under Articles 32, 42 and 43.

Secretaries of the post and the telecommunication and law ministries, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the inspector general of police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, Grameenphone, Robi Axiata Ltd, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd, Banglalink Ltd, Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd and Pacific Bangladesh Ltd (Citycell) have been made respondents in the legal notice.
“Collection of biometric data is absolutely illegal, arbitrary, mala fide, and violates state security. The biometric data collected might be used for criminal activities. This should be stopped immediately for the greater interest of the security of the people,” Pallab said.
“It is apparent that collection of such information will be prejudicial to the safety and security of the client and society, and will create potential risks of circulation of such database among national and international criminal organisations, networks or syndicates (sic),” the legal notice states.

SIM registration

Legal notice to stop biometric system

A legal notice was served yesterday instructing the authorities concerned to stop biometric registration for SIM cards of some mobile operators within two days. It has been sent by barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab, a Supreme Court lawyer, on behalf of Khairul Hasan Sarker of Segun Bagicha in Dhaka. The notice mentions that biometric data/fingerprint is the most sensitive, secret, private, inviolable, uninfringeable and confidential information of the people. Therefore, collection of such information by mobile operators, who are not part of any public body, is serious violation of fundamental rights of the people to privacy and freedom, as guaranteed by the Constitution under Articles 32, 42 and 43. Secretaries of the post and the telecommunication and law ministries, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the inspector general of police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, Grameenphone, Robi Axiata Ltd, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd, Banglalink Ltd, Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd and Pacific Bangladesh Ltd (Citycell) have been made respondents in the legal notice. Collection of biometric data is absolutely illegal, arbitrary, mala fide, and violates state security. The biometric data collected might be used for criminal activities. This should be stopped immediately for the greater interest of the security of the people, Pallab said. It is apparent that collection of such information will be prejudicial to the safety and security of the client and society, and will create potential risks of circulation of such database among national and international criminal organisations, networks or syndicates (sic), the legal notice states.