Khairul Alam: A group of rights activists have expressed apprehension that common people could be harassed through the cyber security law. He demanded amendments to the proposed Cyber Security Act.
In a statement, they said, the cabinet on August 7 approved the Cyber Security Act 2023 to replace the controversial Digital Security Act. The draft of the law was released on 9 August and citizens’ opinions were sought.
The statement welcomed the decision to repeal the Digital Security Act and give citizens an opportunity to have their say.
The statement further said that Section 29 of the proposed Cyber Security Act would create offenses under sections 499 and 500 of the Penal Code and are punishable under the proposed Act, which creates confusion about the purpose of the proposed Act.
This change in punishment is inconsistent with Article 27 of the Constitution. Apart from this, there is scope to make some other sections bailable as well.
Rights activists believe that sections 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 32 of the proposed law are not compatible with the principles of the Bangladesh Constitution, fundamental human rights .
Further, since Section 42 of the Act is not very different from Section 43 of the Digital Security Act, there is scope for it to become oppressive and restrictive, which may create opportunities to undermine internationally recognized human rights principles.
Rights activists have made several demands to repeal the Act by introducing a ‘Bill to Repeal the Digital Security Act’ in Parliament. Substituting the Cyber Security Act into the title of the Cyber Security Act.
Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act and release of prisoners against whom cases have been registered for exercising fundamental rights under the Information and Communication Technology Act. For this, a citizen-friendly judicial inquiry commission should be constituted.