Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services urged the interim government to repeal the Cyber Security Act 2023.
鈥楾he act continues the repressive measures of the Digital Security Act 2018 and Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006, which are contrary to the country鈥檚 constitution and pose a severe threat to human rights,鈥� BASIS said in a media statement
on Friday.
M Asif Rahman, director of the organisation, raised this issue at a general meeting of BASIS and said that it was unanimously decided that the association would first initiate discussions on the matter with the interim government.
The Cyber Security Act has frequently been used to target journalists, human rights activists, and dissenting voices, despite legislators鈥� repeated justifications for its enactment.
Recent events, such as the arrest of numerous individuals for criticising the quota system and charges against others for satirical posts, highlight the abuse of this law.
鈥楾he Cyber Security Act retains many of the provisions of the Digital Security Act, granting authorities excessive powers to search, arrest, and detain individuals without warrants. This law enables government control over online content and infringes on freedom of speech,鈥� said Asif Rahman.
鈥楤ased on my recent experiences, I can say that this law is often misused. The act threatens freedom of expression and personal security in Bangladesh. To end the suppression of dissent and comply with international human rights standards, this law must be repealed,鈥� BASIS president Russell T Ahmed said.
The association calls on the interim government to repeal or substantially amend the law and urges the release of individuals detained under the act and the withdrawal of all charges against them.
It also advocates for necessary actions to repeal this unconstitutional act.