The government has decided to withdraw all the "speech offence"-related cases, which were filed under cyber laws and release any individuals arrested in these cases immediately through legal processes.
The Law Ministry gave the development through a press release issued on Monday.
The Law Ministry press release said that as of August 2024, a total of 5,818 cases have been filed under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, the Digital Security Act, 2018, and the Cyber Security Act, 2023, across eight cyber tribunals in the country.
"Among these cases, those related to the expression of free speech on digital platforms have been classified as "speech offences," while crimes involving computer hacking or fraud using digital devices are categorised as 'computer offences'," according to the Law Ministry press release.
"We have identified cases filed over expressing opinion on digital platforms under 'speech offence' and those lodged over computer hacking and fraud through any other digital devices under 'computer offence'. The government has decided to rescind the cases regarding speech offence quickly," Law Ministry spokesperson Dr Md Rezaul Karim said.
"Proceedings of a total of 1,340 cases over speech offence are now ongoing in the country, of which 461 are under investigation and 879 are pending in eight cyber tribunals. Of the 1,340 cases over speech offence, 279 have been filed under Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, 786 under Digital Security Act, 2018, and 275 were filed under Cyber Security Act, 2023," the law ministry official added.
Of the 1,340 cases over speech offence, 879, which are currently pending with cyber tribunals, would be revoked first in coordination between law and home ministries.
The concerned investigation officers would be given directions to dispose of the 461 under probe cases soon, by giving final reports.
Any detainees in these cases will be released immediately as part of this process.
