The interim government has decided to withdraw cases filed under the Cyber Security Act, the Digital Security Act and the Information and Communication Technology Act for 鈥榮peech-based offences鈥� making remarks and criticising the ruling and action of the regime of Sheikh Hasina.
A statement issued by law ministry on Monday said that anyone detained under these laws would be released immediately through legal procedures.
The move came amid continued protest against the draconian laws from all sections of people including journalists and civil society members.
As of August 2024, a total of 5,818 cases remained pending before all the eight cyber tribunals across the country.
These cases were filed under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, the Digital Security Act, 2018, and the Cyber Security Act, 2023.
Of the total cases, 1,340 cases were identified as 鈥榮peech-based offences鈥�, while the remaining ones were 鈥榗omputer-based offences鈥� such as hacking and digital fraud.Of the 1,340 ongoing cases related to speech-based offences, 461 are under investigation, and 879 are under trial.
The cases of 鈥榮peech-based offences鈥� included 279 under the ICT Act, 786 under the DSA, and 275 under the CSA.
The statement said that the home ministry, in collaboration with the law ministry, would facilitate the withdrawal of the 879 trials, while investigators were instructed to expedite final reports for the remaining 461 cases.
The ministry confirmed that detainees in these cases would be released promptly as part of the withdrawal process.
The high-profile cases under the cybercrime acts include two against Asif Nazrul, the law adviser to the interim government and a former law professor at Dhaka University.
He was accused in two defamation cases filed under Section 57 of the ICT Act.
One of these cases, filed on November 23, 2017 by Faruk Khan鈥攂rother of the then shipping minister Shajahan Khan鈥攁lleged defamation over a Facebook post related to recruitment practices at Chittagong Port.
On August 12, the Editors鈥� Council in a statement demanded to withdraw and cancel all the cases including those filed against journalists under the CSA and the previous DSA, as well as harassment cases related to the recent movement.
The statement also urged the repeal of all restrictive laws, including the CSA.
The statement emphasised that the previous government had implemented several measures aiming at curbing freedom of speech, creativity, and press independence through the enactment of restrictive legislation.