Bangladesh draft cyber law creates sweeping scope for abuse, says local Transparency International

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) warned that proposed amendments to the country’s cyber law could undermine freedom of expression, enable surveillance, and create broad opportunities for abuse by authorities.

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said Friday that the draft Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026 combines cybercrime, cybersecurity, and freedom of expression under one law while failing to adequately address any of them.

He said vague definitions of terms including “rumour,” “misinformation,” “defamatory,” and “insulting to the state” could permit targeted misuse and threaten dissent.

TIB also criticized plans for a 28-member National Cyber Security Council dominated by government representatives and provisions granting officials immunity for actions taken in “good faith.”

The watchdog urged the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to honor its election commitment on cybersecurity and comprehensively revise the draft after consultation with independent experts and stakeholders.