Govt vows Cyber Security Act will not suppress press freedom

The government has no intention of using the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026 to suppress free thought, press freedom or journalists, Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman said on Thursday.

He said the draft was being carefully revised to prevent ambiguous provisions that could later be misused against the media.

“Under no circumstances are any laws being enacted with the intention of suppressing free thought, freedom of the press, or journalists,” he said.

Andaleeve Rahman made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat to review the draft Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026.

He said the media had previously faced suppression through laws including the Digital Security Act and that the present government was extremely cautious about the possibility of similar misuse.

“The draft law is being revised with great care so that it does not contain any ambiguous (dual-meaning) words that could create opportunities for misuse against the media in the future,” he said.

The minister said the government’s objective was instead to prevent disorder on social media, protect social harmony and curb morally degrading content in the public sphere.

He said obscene abuse, cyberbullying and vulgar content were being spread through online and social media platforms in the name of freedom of expression, damaging social values and ethics.

“Our main task is to prevent this social degradation and protect the freedom of the media. Discussions are ongoing with stakeholders on how these two issues can be coordinated without creating any conflict between them,” he said.

He also stressed that social awareness was necessary alongside legal enforcement, saying all crimes could not be suppressed simply by enacting strict laws.

The government would undertake special programmes to make people aware that sharing defamatory information or posts in cyberspace without verifying their authenticity could also constitute an offence, he said.

Earlier, in his opening remarks at the consultation meeting, the minister said direct engagement with media professionals was essential before finalising the amendment to protect information publication, independent journalism and freedom of expression.

“That is why we are discussing the matter with media professionals,” he said.

He said media professionals were best placed to identify how legal language worked at the grassroots level and where ambiguity could arise.

“You are the ones who know best how the language of a law works at the grassroots level and where ambiguity may arise. The cyber security of a democratic state and freedom of the media are not contradictory objectives; rather, they should complement each other,” he said.

Assuring media editors, Andaleeve said the government had no ulterior motive in amending the law.
“We are not amending this law with any ulterior motive.

There is no reason for the print media to be concerned about this. Please provide your suggestions openly regarding where there are ambiguities or complexities in the law. We will consider them seriously,” he said.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said amendments to the Cyber Security Act were necessary to maintain social balance and that the government was taking measures to prevent misuse of the law.
“The level of cybercrime has increased alarmingly worldwide.

In many countries, 44 percent of all crimes are now committed in cyberspace. In Bangladesh as well, there is no alternative to a timely law to prevent crimes such as online fraud, sextortion, blackmailing of women, and the disruption of social and religious harmony,” he said.

He said the Prime Minister had instructed that the law be revised through consultations with stakeholders to prevent misuse and controversy.

Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faqir Mahbub Anam, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam also spoke.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad and ICT Division Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan were present.

Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Managing Director and Chief Editor Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury described the government’s initiative to repeal and amend controversial provisions of laws enacted by the previous government as positive and reassuring.

He said provisions providing punishment for false complainants and removing non-bailable provisions were commendable.

“Indecency on social media in the name of freedom of expression, and the online harassment of women, children, and prominent individuals through fake IDs can in no way be considered freedom of expression,” he said.

He warned that encouraging such activities would increase social vulgarity and disgrace civilisation. He also said the law should clearly establish accountability if any government agency violated citizens’ cyber rights.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Mahbuba Farjana moderated the meeting, where the draft proposal was presented by National Cyber Security Agency Director General Dr Md Taibur Rahman.

Leaders of journalists’ organisations, editors of electronic, print and online media outlets and other relevant stakeholders took part in the open discussion.