Kaikobad calls for stronger cyber law

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad on Monday stressed the necessity of a stronger cyber security law to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumours in the name of religious sentiment, saying loopholes created after amendments to the Cyber Security Act (CSA) during the interim government's tenure are being exploited by "vested groups."

While speaking at BSRF Dialogue organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters' Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat Media Centre in Dhaka, the minister said the law enacted during the previous government had been "a good law," although it was misused in some cases.

BSRF President Masudul Haque presided over the dialogue General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal moderated.

"A section of people is spreading misinformation and rumours in the name of religious sentiment by taking advantage of the amendments made during the interim government's tenure. Those who were previously involved in such activities got released after the amendments and have resumed spreading propaganda," he said while responding to a journalist's question.

The minister said the government believes a revised legal framework is necessary to combat cybercrime and organised misinformation campaigns, but assured that such a law would not be used to suppress dissent or harass journalists. "The previous law was misused during the authoritarian regime. But completely weakening the law has given room to propagandists. A new legal framework is needed to prevent cybercrime and disinformation," he said.

Kaikobad also claimed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman does not support curbing freedom of expression and would not allow the law to be used against opposition voices or media professionals.

Kaikobad urged journalists and citizens to stay alert against conspiracies aimed at destabilising the country, alleging that anti-government groups were spreading rumours and propaganda because they "cannot tolerate" the development work being carried out by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.