Transparency International Bangladesh on Tuesday urged the interim government to allow at least one month for a comprehensive review and inclusive participation process before promulgating the draft ‘Cyber Protection Ordinance, 2024’.
The organisation emphasised that issuing the ordinance without adequate analysis and consultation with stakeholders risks undermining its intended purpose, said a press release. Â
In this regard, TIB officially recommended to the interim government on November 15 that at least one month should be allocated for all relevant stakeholders and experts to conduct a comprehensive review of the draft.
The organisation’s executive director Iftekharuzzaman in the recommendation letter said, ‘Issuing such an important ordinance like the ‘Cyber Protection Ordinance, 2024’ without sufficient analysis and inclusive feedback from relevant stakeholders carries the risk of disrupting its core objectives.’
The release said that the draft, available for review on the website for only three working days before being removed, has already received initial approval from the Advisory Council on December 12, 2024.
‘It is essential to take into consideration the probabilities that this ordinance, which is similar to the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act may restrict the freedom of speech and expression of citizens,’ he added.
TIB hoped that this ordinance would be enacted to ensure cyber security and formulate necessary provisions for preventing and suppressing cyber-crimes and conducting cyber-crime investigations and judicial proceedings.