Bangladesh okays draft of revised digital security law

Bangladesh cabinet has approved the draft of a revised cyber security law incorporating provisions which, officials said, were found to be left out in the existing law to prevent cybercrimes.The weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the draft of the Digital Security Act 2018 with officials saying it would protect the country’s critical information infrastructure (CII) simultaneously containing the cybercrimes.After the meeting, cabinet secretary Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the secretariat.According to the proposed law, anyone spreading negative propaganda against the Liberation War or Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, using digital devices, will risk being sentenced.If anyone illegally enters any critical information infrastructure, he or she will be sentenced to maximum seven years in jail or be fined by 2.5mn taka or by both.The new Digital Security Act clarifies offences and their respective sentences.Both bailable and non-bailable offences have been included in the new draft, the cabinet secretary said.On August 22, 2016 a draft of the Digital Security Act received provisional approval from the cabinet.The draft outlined a life sentence and a fine up to 10mn taka for anyone involved in propaganda against the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.The draft had also proposed a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison and fine up to 10mn taka for a number of cybercrimes.