Senior editors and newspaper owners have warned that the draft amendments to the Cyber Protection Act could create fear among journalists and restrict independent reporting, urging the government to remove provisions they say could be misused.
At a meeting with the government on Monday, editors raised concerns over provisions that they fear could expose journalists to arrest, trial by mobile courts and other forms of pressure.
However, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed assured them that the amended law would not target the media or become a tool for harassment.
“We did not initiate the amendment of the Cyber Protection Act targeting the media. We do not want any journalist to become a victim of this law or see it being misused,” he said after the meeting at the Secretariat.
Newspapers Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (Noab) President and Manab Zamin Editor-in-Chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said passing the law without changes could create a climate of fear.
“If the Cyber Protection Act is passed without amendments, Bangladesh will turn into a large prison,” he said.
“My concern regarding this law is that journalists can be tried and arrested through mobile courts. This should not happen.”
“This is a horrible black law,” he added.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said editors had expressed serious concerns after reviewing the draft.
“After reviewing the draft of this law, we have expressed deep concern. If this law is adopted, it will create obstacles,” he said after the meeting.
He questioned how provisions allowing mobile court involvement had been included in the law.
“Together, we will submit a good proposal so that the media receives protection,” he said.
The concerns come as the government moves to replace the Cyber Security Act-2023 with a revised Cyber Protection Act.
After the fall of the Awami League government, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government repealed the Cyber Security Act-2023 in 2025 and issued the Cyber Protection Ordinance. After BNP came to power, the government moved to amend the ordinance.
The Digital Security Act and later the Cyber Security Act introduced during the Awami League’s tenure faced criticism from journalists, rights groups and civil society organisations over allegations of misuse and restrictions on freedom of expression.
The latest draft has also drawn criticism over provisions dealing with misinformation, edited content and artificial intelligence-generated material.
One provision states that if law enforcement agencies, ministries or other government bodies believe, after analysing information and data, that any content published or circulated online threatens national integrity, security, defence or public order, creates risks of religious hatred or ethnic violence, encourages disorder or criminal activity, or is defamatory or insulting to the state, authorities may take steps to remove or block the content.
The draft also makes publishing or circulating edited or AI-generated content a punishable offence and includes cyber fraud among punishable offences.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has also raised concerns over the draft, saying some provisions could pose risks to fundamental rights, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
TIB said several terms, including “national integrity”, “security”, “defence”, “friendly relations with a foreign state” and “for the benefit of any foreign state or individual or group”, lacked clear definitions.
The organisation warned that vague wording could allow those in power to use the law according to their interests.
The government, however, says it is seeking broader consultation before finalising the law.
“The amendments to the Cyber Security Act will not become an oppressive law under any circumstances and there will be no misuse of it. Opinions from all stakeholders and experts are being taken for this purpose,” Salahuddin said.
He said the draft had already been published on the website to collect views from citizens, human rights groups, students and IT experts.
The government is also holding consultations with editors and representatives of print, electronic and online media, he said.
A special expert panel comprising media representatives, journalists’ organisations and technology experts will review the feedback and submit recommendations within 15 days.
Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed will act as the focal officer for forming the committee and coordinating meetings with the Editors Guild, Atco and journalists’ organisations.
The minister said a specific timeframe would be set for resolving appeals so that no one remains stuck in legal proceedings indefinitely.
He said the government would not rush the legislation. After incorporating recommendations, the draft would again be published online before being sent to the Cabinet.
If approved by the Cabinet, it will be placed before parliament, where discussions by both government and opposition lawmakers, along with views from seminars and symposiums, will be considered before finalisation.
