Dhaka, Nov 07 (V7N)- The interim government has agreed in principle to revoke the Cyber Security Act (CSA), a law heavily criticized for limiting freedom of expression.

At a meeting today chaired by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus in Tejgaon, Dhaka, the Advisory Council decided to annul the CSA, which was established by the previous Awami League (AL) government, according to a report by Prothom Alo. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan confirmed this decision.

Last week, Adviser for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Nahid Islam announced that the CSA would be repealed within a week, and all pending cases under the act would be withdrawn. He also mentioned that other restrictive laws impacting free speech are under review.

Earlier, on October 3, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the law would be repealed, noting that consultations with experts would determine whether to entirely abolish the law or just specific provisions impacting free expression. He assured that any future legislation would prioritize safeguarding citizens, with protections specifically for women, children, and sensitive societal issues.

Sources from The Business Standard report that the ICT Division was set to present the draft "Cyber Security Act (Repeal) Ordinance, 2024" at the meeting today for preliminary approval.

The CSA, enacted as a successor to the Digital Security Act (DSA), has faced widespread criticism from human rights activists, both domestically and internationally, for allegedly being used by the previous government to suppress dissent online. By the end of September, 5,818 cases linked to the CSA and earlier legislation, such as the Information and Communication Technology Act and DSA, were pending in the country’s cyber tribunals.

Following the interim government’s recent installation, many individuals previously detained under these restrictive laws have been granted bail, with steps being taken to revoke the contentious legislation.

The CSA, originating from the ICT Act of 2006, was expanded into the DSA in 2018 by the AL-led government. Under the DSA’s Article 32, cases were often filed against journalists and dissidents under non-bailable provisions. International organizations, including the United States and the European Union, have repeatedly called for its repeal.

In response, the previous government replaced the DSA with the Cyber Security Act 2023, but the act continued to face scrutiny.

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