The cabinet has finally approved the draft of ‘Cyber Security Act-2023’ leaving two more sections bailable and 4 non-bailable. This approval was given in the Cabinet meeting held chaired by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s office in Tejgaon of the capital on Monday.
At the end of the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conveyed this information in a press briefing. He said, “The draft has been finalized with a few changes including definitions. Sections 17, 19, 27 and 33 are non-bailable. The rest are bailable.”
Article 17 deals with unlawful access to Critical Information Infrastructure, Article 19 deals with damage to computers and computer systems, Article 27 deals with cyber terrorist activities and Article 33 deals with offenses and penalties related to hacking.
Earlier, the Cabinet gave in-principle approval to the Cyber Security Act-2023 on August 7. After that, Law Minister Anisul Haque said that the law is being made by changing the name of DSA and amending several sections.
On that day, Law Minister Anisul Haque said that the Digital Security Act has been changed to the Cyber Security Act. However, the Cyber Security Act has been made keeping the clauses which were in the Digital Security Act.
Stakeholders and human rights organizations have complained about the draft of the proposed cyber security act, which has not changed the content of the law except to reduce the punishment and make the clause bailable. It will not reduce the harassment of people.
On August 9, the draft of the Act was published on the website of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, seeking the views of stakeholders. They gave 14 days for this. About 500 comments were received.
It was not immediately known if any changes were made to the content of the draft law before final approval by the cabinet.
Law Minister Anisul Haque told the media that the two sections that have been newly made bailable are section 21. The minister could not immediately tell what the other clause is.