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Bold government initiative to prevent cyber terrorism
Special Correspondent
Published: 30 Sep 2026, 12:00 AM
Thanks to the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman. The government has taken a bold step to strengthen Bangladesh’s legal framework against cyber terrorism. It is moving to amend the Cyber Security Act once again, this time with tougher provisions aimed at tackling rumours, disinformation, cyberbullying, blackmail, extortion and other forms of online abuse.
The draft bill to amend the Cyber Security Act was previously presented to the Cabinet, which instructed that wide-ranging discussions and consultations be held with IT experts working in cyberspace and all relevant stakeholders. To gather opinions from all sections of society, the draft bill was subsequently published on the government website. Meanwhile, various institutions, human rights organisations, students and cyberspace users have submitted valuable feedback, which the government has compiled. This is a notable example of the government’s respect for public opinion.
According to the draft law, if law enforcement agencies, ministries or other organisations or forces have reason to believe – based on data and information analysis – that information, disinformation or rumours published or disseminated in cyberspace or through digital or electronic media damages or threatens to damage the integrity, security, defence or public order of the country; instigates or risks instigating religious, communal or ethnic violence; provides instructions for disorder or criminal activity; or defames any person or institution or is derogatory towards the state, government forces or agencies will take necessary measures to remove or block such content.
The draft provides for a Cyber Security Council headed by the prime minister, comprising five government ministers and government officials at various levels. It also proposes the inclusion of two non-government experts, who will be nominated by the government.
The draft provides for imprisonment and fines for offences involving sexual harassment, blackmail, the publication of obscene content and defamatory information. Under the proposed provisions, publishing or disseminating information created through editing or artificial intelligence will also be considered an offence.
In addition, content, audio, video, graphics and still photographs relating to sexual harassment, revenge porn, digital child abuse or sextortion, defamation, humiliation or bullying will be subject to punishment.
The law is being strengthened through new sections, with penalties also being increased. In the proposed amendment, four terms – rumour, disinformation, humiliation and defamation – have been brought within the definition of criminal offences so that those responsible can be prosecuted.
A new Section 26/A would provide that publishing or disseminating rumours and disinformation in cyberspace constitutes an offence. Anyone committing such an offence could face imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of up to Tk40 lakh, or both.
The draft also defines a rumour as any unconfirmed or unverified information, news or claim that creates, or risks creating, confusion, panic, tension or social instability among the public.
Disinformation is defined as false, distorted or misleading information published or disseminated intentionally with the aim of misleading, deceiving or harming an individual, the public, an institution or the state. Strict penal provisions are also being proposed to curb false propaganda using artificial intelligence (AI), including fake videos, audio and misleading images.
Two new terms are also being added to Section 25 of the amended law concerning offences and penalties relating to defamation and humiliation. If a person publishes or disseminates any information, audio, video, audiovisual material, still photograph, graphics or other content created using AI or edited by other means with the intention of defaming or humiliating someone, it will constitute an offence. The punishment would be up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 20 lakh, or both.
If defamatory or humiliating material is disseminated against a woman or a minor under 18, the punishment would be up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk40 lakh, or both. Section 499 of the Penal Code has been cited in the explanation of defamation.
If these provisions are added, they will represent an effective step towards establishing the rights of ordinary citizens. Such an initiative is undoubtedly a bold move by the government. Some sections, including the media, have expressed concerns about the proposed law. However, everyone should recognise that the misuse of social media is now considered a major threat not only to individuals but also to society and the state.
Uncontrolled social media can be harmful to any society. Instead of facilitating constructive communication, it has increasingly become a platform for attacking and intimidating others through dirty, abusive and vulgar language. For some, the primary activities are character assassination, blackmail and extortion. As a result, social media has contributed to a sense of anarchy and lawlessness across society.
Various countries around the world have enacted laws to prevent the harmful use of social media and, through such legislation, have sought to protect their citizens. Bangladesh, however, has lacked an effective legal framework to address arbitrary and harmful activity on social media. The Cyber Security Act 2026 was passed during the first session of the National Parliament on 10 April. However, the law was incomplete. It was not only inadequate but also ineffective in preventing cyberbullying and the spread of falsehoods on social media. As a result, cybercriminals have become increasingly emboldened, engaging in character assassination with little hindrance.
In this context, the government’s initiative to enact a new law is undoubtedly a bold step. It is hoped that the law will, to some extent, bring cybercriminals under control.
Social media has now become a parallel force capable of influencing various government decisions. Politicians, bureaucrats, police officers, teachers and business owners are all unsettled by its influence. Rumours and disinformation are being used to embarrass the government and damage its image.
An organised syndicate based abroad is using social media to target business owners, industrialists and entrepreneurs while demanding large sums of money from them. If the money is not paid, coordinated attacks begin. False and baseless content is published against the targets one piece after another, with the aim of humiliating them both mentally and socially. Eventually, the perpetrators demand large sums in extortion.
Panic-stricken, many business owners reportedly surrender to cyber extortionists to protect their dignity. Those who refuse to submit to such demands may instead face serious consequences. Although the country has laws and courts, cybercriminals often appear to operate beyond their reach. Victims may struggle to obtain legal redress after falling prey to cybercrime. Police stations and other law enforcement agencies may be reluctant to accept complaints or investigate cases because of the influence and intimidation associated with cybercriminals.
Courts and judges also face difficulties in dealing with disinformation, rumours and cyberbullying. The government, too, faces challenges in taking action against those responsible. Some cybercriminals have become so emboldened that they no longer appear to fear publishing offensive and damaging content against the head of government and their family. They therefore pose a significant challenge to the governance of the state.
Social media has become a major threat to people’s social security – a silent danger. Cyberbullying has contributed to severe distress, and many people’s lives have been disrupted or ruined, while others have been deceived. Yet there has been no sufficiently effective legal mechanism to prevent such abuse. As a result, social media platforms have become a major source of public anxiety.
Uncontrolled social media can also make some people increasingly aggressive. Previously, people might have hired criminals or used muscle power to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent. Now, instead of conventional thugs, cybercriminals are being used to target rivals. Women who might once have faced other forms of harassment can instead be subjected to vulgar and abusive attacks on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. One study found that 90 per cent of female social media users in Bangladesh had experienced cyberbullying.
Harassing women is not the only activity of cybercriminals. Cyberterrorists are also targeting minority communities, shrines and religious sites, as well as sensitive subjects such as the Liberation War, with false information. Such activities can increase fear, anger and distrust among citizens and ultimately create serious social problems.
Is spreading manipulated images and conducting targeted propaganda campaigns against individuals truly part of freedom of expression?
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression (UDHR, 1948, Article 19). Simply put, expressing one’s thoughts and opinions is a fundamental right.
However, that right is not absolute. Article 19(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that the exercise of this right carries responsibilities and that restrictions may be imposed by law where necessary to protect the reputation of others, safeguard public interests or address threats to public order (ICCPR, 1966). In simple terms, while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, the right to say whatever one wishes without consequence is not unlimited.
During the Second World War, Nazi Germany used propaganda to portray an entire population as the enemy. Following that horrific experience, the international community recognised the importance of protecting freedom of expression while preventing its use to promote hatred and destruction.
Today, particularly in the age of social media, that risk has re-emerged in new forms. The difference is that propaganda once took considerable time to spread; now, it can reach hundreds of thousands of people within minutes.
Keeping this reality in mind, the European Union introduced the Digital Services Act in 2022. Under the legislation, major online platforms are required to take proactive measures to reduce systemic risks associated with illegal content, disinformation and other forms of social harm (European Union, 2022, Arts. 34–35).
The European Union is not alone. Various countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, have introduced laws and regulations addressing bullying, falsehoods and hate speech in cyberspace. In Bangladesh, however, cybercrime has remained difficult to prosecute, with perpetrators often escaping accountability.
Therefore, reviewing international legislation while amending the Cyber Security Act is a demand of the time. The government’s intention to address harmful and arbitrary activity on social media within the shortest possible time reflects its stated accountability to the people.
Unless citizens’ security in the digital world is ensured, democracy, human rights and the rule of law cannot be fully established. For this reason, the government’s initiative to strengthen the law represents a significant step towards protecting citizens’ rights.