Bangladesh
Phone Hacking Phone hacking: No device has been bought from Israel, nor will it be, says Home Minister Kamal
Dhaka, August 20: After reports emerged of Israeli phone-hacking firm Cellebrite halting its product selling in Bangladesh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that Dhaka had never bought anything from Israel, now will it ever be done.
"We have never imported such equipments (phone hacking) from Israel. We don't intend to in the future as well. Israel keeps on marketing their phone hacking technology across the globe. Bangladesh has never had a trade agreement with Israel and it still does not have one currently. Therefore, the purchase of such technolofy does not arise," the minister said.
In a report published on August 17, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said, "Israeli phone-hacking firm Cellebrite has decided to stop selling its technology to Bangladesh – where its hardware was reportedly used by a paramilitary unit accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances of civilians and journalists – in a decision likely influenced by the company's plan to go public this year."
The minister was responding to a question from reporters after distributing food items among the needy on the occasion of National Mourning Day organized by Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Thana Awami League at Rajdhani High School on Thursday (August 19) afternoon.
Regarding Israel's statement on human rights violations in Bangladesh, the Home Minister said, "Bangladesh has never violated human rights. Member of Bangladesh Human Rights Organization. That is why we are working together with different countries to uphold human rights."
Meanwhile, the Home Minister said the perpetrators and instigators of the attack on the official residence of Barisal Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munibur Rahman would be punished.
"The matter is under investigation," he said. "What was the role of the car will come out through the investigation. If anyone has made a mistake, action will be taken against them at the end of the investigation. The perpetrators and instigators of the attack on the government residence will be punished."
The minister said, "Whenever there is an abnormal situation, it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to normalize the situation. At the stage where the incident in Barisal went, the law enforcement forces went to the spot and normalized the situation. Currently there is no tension in Barisal city. A case has been filed in this regard, whether anyone was persuaded in the incident or not, it will be said at the end of the investigation of the case."
