The interim government has taken a policy decision to repeal the controversial Cyber Security Act(CSA) passed during the Awami League government.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Advisery Council held at the office of the Chief Adviser in Tejgaon in the capital on Thursday (November 7) under the chairmanship of Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan gave this information.
It is learned that if the Cyber Security Act is repealed, the cases filed on charges of 'misleading and defamatory propaganda' about the Liberation War, Bangabandhu and hurting religious sentiments will be automatically canceled.
The controversial Digital Security Act was enacted during the Awami League regime in 2018. Later, when there was severe criticism on this issue, the Digital Security Act was repealed in 2023 and replaced with the Cyber Security Act. Nevertheless, there was widespread debate and criticism about it. There were objections to this law from various levels, including journalists. Today, the interim government took a policy decision to repeal the law.
Earlier, on September 30, the Law Ministry said in a notification that the government has decided to withdraw the cases related to 'speech offense' (free expression of opinion) filed under the Cyber Act. At the same time, the Law Ministry also said that if anyone is arrested in these cases, he will also be released immediately through legal process.
Meanwhile, a total of 5,818 cases are pending in the country's 8 cyber tribunals under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006, the Digital Security Act 2018 and the Cyber Security Act 2023 as of August this year.
In addition, there are currently 1,340 cases related to 'speech offense'. Of these, 279 cases are pending under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 786 under the Digital Security Act and 275 under the Cyber Security Act. Of these cases, 461 cases are under investigation by the investigating agency and 879 cases are pending in the country's eight cyber tribunals.