Dhaka Bureau: The much-discussed Cyber Security Bill 2023 has been tabled in the 24th session of the Jatiya Sangsad and has been sent to the Select Committee. On Tuesday (September 5) at 4:45 PM, Speaker Dr. This decision was taken in the session chaired by Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak presented the Cyber Security Bill 2023 in Parliament.
The State Minister also proposed to send it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications for an experimental report. Section 21 of the bill states that any kind of propaganda against the Liberation War, the spirit of the Liberation War, the Father of the Nation, the National Anthem, or the flag shall be punished with a maximum of 5 years in jail and a fine of Tk 1 crore.
Opposing the bill, Jatiya Party presidium member Fakhrul Imam said, The law minister has discussed and promised about this bill many times; I had hoped that the law minister would introduce the bill today. But raised by Junaid Ahmed Palak. However, there is criticism from various circles, including journalists, about this law. Many of them said that only the name of this law has been changed; some clauses have been modified. But it is a black law. Various quarters have said that the provisions contained in the Digital Security Act, as defined, have been retained in the proposed legislation.
Fundamental weaknesses in digital security laws remain. Many elements remain in the Cyber Security Act, such as taking away basic human rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and especially the freedom of the media. TIB has commented that it is restrictive in the current draft. They feel that this too will take away people’s basic freedoms. This too will turn into a black law, and it will also take away the basic rights of people. Harassment will come from people and the mass media.
Therefore, he opposes this law and asks for an explanation as to why harassment will not happen. In reply, Junaid Ahmed Palak said that when the Prime Minister announced Digital Bangladesh, in the beginning only 5.6 million people were using the Internet. There was no digital transaction. But under the leadership of information technology consultant Sajeeb Wazed Joy, 130 million people in Bangladesh now use the Internet. 2000 services have been done digitally over the Internet, and 450,000 cases have also been heard during the Corona period. He also said that the benefits of digital technology have also created risks in cyberspace.
How members of BNP Jamaat-Shibir in Ramu in 2012 caused a lot of loss of property and lives by spreading false information on Facebook and social media In 2016, the central bank was attacked by cyberattacks. Hackers steal $81 million in cyber attacks. After that, we create a computer response team. Towards the end of the construction of the Padma Bridge, a rumor spread on social media that children’s heads were needed to strengthen the pillars of the bridge. As a result, a woman named Renu was lynched to death in Mirpur. It is because cybercrime poses such a serious risk to life that we are thinking of enacting the Digital Security Act 2018. According to the current demand, after discussing with journalists, human rights organizations, and the Law Minister, we have introduced the Cyber Security Act.
Sections that were non-bailable in the Digital Security Act have been made bailable. Bailable in only 4 sections. It is a liberal law. Later, the Minister of State for Information Technology raised the bill in Parliament, and it was sent to the Parliamentary Committee for 5 working days. The bill will be passed by the current parliament. Incidentally, the government announced on August 7 that it has decided to ‘transform’ and modernize the Digital Security Act, which will be called the Cyber Security Act. Where certain sections of the existing law will be amended. The cabinet approved the final draft of the CSA on August 28.
