Parliamentary committee has submitted the final report on Cyber Security Bill 2023
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology has presented the final report on the Cyber Security Bill 2023, adding the provision of punishment for filing false cases under the Cyber Security Act. Rezwan Ahmed Taufiq, a member of the parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, proposed the amendment of the bill on Sunday (September 10).
According to the proposed bill, the tribunal will be able to accept the complaint and try the case based on the written complaint of a person. However, the court will consider the complaint if the person who is the victim of the false case submits a written complaint.
Apart from this, wording changes have been recommended in some clauses, including the deletion of clause 32 of the bill, in the submitted amendment bill.
It is recommended to add a new section in the bill which states that if a person files or makes a suit or complaint against another person without knowing any just or lawful cause for filing a suit or complaint under any other section of this Act with the intention of causing harm to another person, then that would be a crime. The person filing the suit or complaint in this offense and the person who filed the complaint shall be punished with the punishment prescribed for the original offence. If a case or complaint is made under more than one section of this Act, the penalty for the principal offense which is higher among the offenses mentioned in that section may be determined as the amount of penalty.
Earlier on last Thursday, the committee finalized these recommendations after discussing with the leaders of important journalist organizations including National Press Club, BFUJ, and BIJF.
The Cyber Security Act 2023 is repealing the controversial Digital Security Act. The Cyber Security Bill was tabled in Parliament last Tuesday (September 5). The bill was then sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology for examination and report.
