Draft Cyber Security Ordinance Unacceptable: TIB

  • Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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photo: Barta24

photo: Barta24

The Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024 (Draft) is unacceptable. We can see the reflection of the much-debated Cyber Security Act. It will put newspapers and journalism at risk, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman.

He made this comment at a press conference held at the Midas Center in the capital on Tuesday (December 31). TIB organized a press conference to mark the publication of the review of the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024 (Draft).

বিজ্ঞাপন

The much-debated Cyber Security Act has been repealed, and the interim government has prepared a draft of the 'Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024' instead. The draft has already been approved by the Advisory Council.

At the press conference, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, the government had assured us that it would formulate the law after talking to everyone. But I do not understand why it backed down. It is also incomprehensible why it is being rushed. Only 3 days are given to give opinions on the draft law. I can see the law-making process reflecting the work of the previous government. Many sections of the law have been left as before (Cyber Security Act). The law will act as one of the tools of harassment. We want the law to be finalized with everyone's opinions.

বিজ্ঞাপন

He said, I was called by email yesterday (December 30) night to discuss the law today. I am forced to call this a show-off. Otherwise, no one would call me by email the next day!

He also said that punishment has been mentioned for hurting religious sentiments. We are not against it. However, the protection of non-communal sentiments should have been ensured in the same way. The matter is absent in the draft.

Why is the draft of the Cyber Security Act being hidden even after it was approved by the Advisory Council? The TIB expressed surprise on why confidentiality is being protected now, why it is not being uploaded on the website. TIB believes that this secrecy is raising big questions.

Professor Ershadul Karim joined virtually from Malaysia and analyzed the draft. He said, Bangladesh has not faced any problem that is different from the world. Bangladesh is also facing the same kind of problems that the rest of the world is facing. So why should we make more authoritarian laws than other developed countries? The status and reputation of a state in the international arena is revealed through the law. The law should be formulated with caution.

He also said that the law has been made difficult to understand by adding words that have many synonyms. Again, even though it is in proper Bengali, English words have been added. Even though I am a law teacher, I had to rush to decipher the law. Due to the difficulty of understanding the law, there is a possibility of its misuse increasing.

Ershadul Karim said, the draft that was published for public opinion, many new things have been included in the approved draft. Which is against the general practice of lawmaking. This can be considered as an attempt to deceive and fool people.

He said, the title of the ordinance is given as ‘Cyber Security Ordinance 2024’. We strongly believe that the use of the words cyber security here will not be appropriate. It would be appropriate if it were called Cyber or Computer Crime Ordinance. The definition of the word database used in it is undesirable and misleading.

It gives unlimited power to the Director General of the Cyber Security Agency to block and remove any content. It is said that he will then inform the government. He said that since the provisions of the previous Cyber Security Act have been included in this ordinance, there is an opportunity to be concerned about misuse.

He said, there are many government websites in Bangladesh whose security system is very weak where the security fence can be broken unintentionally. For example, if I try to download a PDF, who is responsible for the security fence being broken? Again, punishment has been mentioned for sending unwanted mail, sometimes small entrepreneurs send mail for their products, that will also be considered a crime here.

Ershadul Karim believes that the initiative to include the issue of compensation in Section 30 of the ordinance is worthy of applause.

Among others, TIB Adviser (Executive Management) Professor Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Director (Outreach and Communication) Md. Touhidul Islam were present at the press conference.