Cyber Security Act Controversy: DSA Victims Network Alleges Erosion of Public Trust
The DSA Victims Network has accused the interim government of losing public trust over its failure to repeal the Cyber Security Act, despite announcing its abolition seven months ago. In a statement signed by 28 individuals, including human rights activists, teachers, researchers, lawyers, journalists, Baul musicians, and students, the network alleged that the administration has undermined the spirit of the July uprising by continuing to accept cases under the law.
"We, the undersigned, are victims of the repressive ICT Act (Section 57), the Digital Security Act, or the Cyber Security Act, enacted during the era of the past mafia regime. We are deeply disheartened to observe that even in Bangladesh, after the mass uprising, the infamous Cybersecurity Act has neither been repealed nor ceased to be used. Instead, new cases are being registered under this law daily, and authorities continue to accept complaints and even initiate arrests without proper investigation," the statement read.
The network pointed out that one of the interim government’s foremost commitments was to repeal all repressive laws, including the Cybersecurity Act, which was announced in August. However, despite taking at least four extensions, the law remains in effect. The latest official statement on January 21 from a legal advisor confirmed that the law ministry had completed all formalities for the repeal, leaving only a few procedural tasks pending at the Ministry of Information Technology. Despite another one and a half months passing, the necessary steps remain unfinished, and no official list of withdrawn cases has been provided. Instead, new cases are still being filed under the law.
The statement further expressed concerns over the government’s lack of sincerity, seriousness, and efficiency in repealing such laws. "This negligence is killing the spirit of the July uprising. The incompetence and inefficiency of the interim government are causing it to gradually lose public trust, while conspirators are taking advantage by openly inciting violence, deteriorating law and order, and promoting mob justice. Meanwhile, the police remain overenthusiastic about arrests and repression under the Cybersecurity Act, while showing leniency towards perpetrators of criminal offenses such as extrajudicial violence and vigilantism."
The DSA Victims Network also raised concerns about the proposed Cyber Protection Act, warning that it could be another misguided initiative. "The fear instilled in the public by the Cybersecurity Act will not vanish with the introduction of this new law. Instead, issues like cyber hacking, online gender-based violence, and pornography-related crimes should be tackled through modernized and well-defined legislation rather than another controversial act."
The statement concluded with a demand for the immediate repeal of the Cybersecurity Act and all other repressive laws, the release of all detainees prosecuted under such laws, compensation for victims, and greater accountability in the legislative process to prevent further enactment of repressive laws.
The signatories of the statement include photographer Shahidul Alam, DSA Victims Network convenor Golam Mahfuz Jowardar, member secretary Pritam Das, Didarul Bhuiyan of the State Reform Movement, Supreme Court lawyer Manjila Jhuma, Mahedul Islam, PhD researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, teacher Nusrat Jahan Sonia, student Khadijatul Kubra, journalist Jamal Mir from Barguna, and journalists Rahim Shuvo and Bayezid Ahmed from Dhaka. Other signatories include Al Mamun Jibon from Thakurgaon, Naeem Biswas from Kushtia, Ehsan Habib from Mymensingh, Md. Rakib from Kurigram, and Ahsan Habib Taslim from Khagrachhari, among others.
