Rights Advocates Warn Proposed Cyber Law Changes Threaten Freedoms
At a Dhaka citizens’ dialogue, human rights activists, journalists and political figures warned that proposed amendments to Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act 2026 risk restricting free expression.
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In a Nutshell
- Seven organisations, Voice for Reform, Drik, Nagorik Coalition, HRSS, JRA, DSA Victim Alliance and Bangladesh America Alliance, organised the dialogue at the BDBL Building in Kawran Bazar. Photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam chaired it and Voice for Reform co-convener Fahim Mashroor moderated.
- Mashroor said the draft risks turning a law intended to counter hacking, phishing and financial fraud into a tool for criminalising dissent. He proposed moving provisions on women’s and children’s safety into the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
- National Citizen Party MP Akhter Hossen called the proposed framework a “government protection law” rather than a safeguard for ordinary citizens.
- Former UN Enforced Disappearances Inquiry Commission member Dr Nabila Idris said many cyber-law arrests since February’s elections followed criticism of senior officials and national leaders.
- Former Media Reform Commission head Kamal Ahmed said freedom of expression protections must extend to all citizens, not only media organisations. Participants also included former Chief Adviser special assistant Monir Haider, Wada editor Shafiqul Alam and HRSS Executive Director Ejaz Islam.
Context
The discussion, titled “Cyber Security or Suppression of Voices?”, focused on proposed changes concerning misinformation, defamation, arrests without warrants and online content removal. The concerns echo those raised at earlier discussions of the draft, where journalists and rights advocates called for clearer definitions and safeguards such as written reasons, notice and independent review. The government’s information adviser said in September that the draft remained open to revision and further discussion. The amendments, however, are proposals, not enacted law.
Why It Matters
Protection against genuine cyber threats is extremely essential. Bangladesh has already seen the consequences of using digital-security laws against criticism. Recently, in September 2026, Dhaka Stream reported receiving a cyberattack threat demanding the removal of its investigation into extremist books. The concern is not only about what the proposed amendments could allow. In April 2026, A.M. Hasan Nasim was arrested over a cartoon reportedly depicting a government lawmaker. According to Human Rights Watch, a case was subsequently filed under an online-blackmail provision of the Cyber Security Ordinance. The case shows why safeguards matter.
This distinction is fundamental because a cyber law protects people’s ability to speak when it tackles attacks and intimidation. Moreover, it also undermines that protection when criticism itself becomes grounds for prosecution
What We Think
Cybersecurity should be about protecting everyday citizens, not shielding officials from embarrassment. We've seen the heavy human toll in Bangladesh when criticism gets treated as a crime, so any new reforms that keep vague speech offenses and unchecked takedown powers are just repeating the same mistakes under a new name. The real focus needs to be on stopping actual digital harm and holding state power accountable, rather than silencing dissent.