STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The recently passed cyber security bill is still a repressive and vague one, and its use to arrest for social media content is a matter of concern, speakers said yesterday.

A sharp divide exists between the legislative intent of the new cyber law and its practical application by law enforcement, paving the way for widespread abuse, they told a discussion on “Cyber Security Legislation, Freedom of Expression, and Platform Governance in Bangladesh”.

The programme was jointly organised by Drik, Nagorik Coalition, and Unesco at Gulshan’s Lakeshore Hotel.

Nabila Idris, a member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, said seven people -- ranging from a 16-year-old student to a 35-year-old housewife -- were picked up across the country in just 29 days over social media posts.

She noted that while the sections of the law might seem fine on paper, their application is highly problematic, with people being arrested merely for making “distasteful remarks”.

The cyber security bill was passed by parliament on April 10, adopting an ordinance issued by the interim government.

During the discussion, Supreme Court lawyer Priya Ahsan Chowdhury criticised the law for retaining vague provisions such as “spreading chaos” and “spreading anxiety”, which are subjectively interpreted and frequently abused.

She pointed out that while non-consensual sharing of intimate images is criminalised under the act, police often discourage or refuse to record complaints from female victims, yet eagerly file random defamation cases.

Fahim Mashroor, co-coordinator of the Nagorik Coalition, mentioned that the initial draft of the cyber security ordinance was “very draconian”, but it was softened to a “less draconian one” following repeated objections from civil society.

However, Rehan Asif Asad, the prime minister’s adviser on posts, telecommunications, and information technology, said that despite reviewing the ordinance multiple times, the government passed it in parliament without changing a single word.

Highlighting the country’s cybersecurity landscape, the adviser revealed that during the election period, 60 to 70 percent of total online social traffic in Bangladesh is bot-

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