The government has decided to change the much discussed Digital Security Act-2018.
This decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (August 7) morning. Digital Security Act will be replaced by Cyber Security Act.
Not only is the name being changed in several sections. Law Minister Anisul Haque told the media on Monday afternoon.
The Law Minister said that the Digital Security Act is being changed, not repealed. Many sections of this Act will be incorporated in the new Cyber Security Act. Major amendments will be brought in some clauses.
Anisul Haque said that the non-bailable section is being changed to make it bailable. Earlier the punishment was imprisonment, now it is fine. If the fine is not paid, then imprisonment will be imposed.
The Law Minister said that if something was said insulting the liberation war, Bangabandhu, the national anthem, the national flag, earlier there was a provision of 10 years punishment. Now it has been reduced to 7 years. Also many other clauses will be changed.
The trends that are changing are:
Section 28: Sentence reduced. Bail has been granted.
Section 29: Abolition of imprisonment and only fine. Fine Tk. 25 lakhs Imprisonment maximum 3 to 6 months (if publishing defamatory information)
Section 30: Remains in force.
Section 31: Imprisonment for 7 years to 5 years.
Section 32: Modification of sentence
Non-bailable clauses have been made bailable. Even if the offense is committed a second time, the previous sentence will remain. The sentence will not be enhanced.
Earlier, the Cabinet meeting on Monday approved the decision in principle to amend the Digital Security Act and make it a new law. The government will replace the Act with a new Cyber Security Act-2023.
This law will be raised in the session of JS in September
As the reason for changing the name, the Law Minister said that if the Digital Security Act had its previous name, it would create human pressure, so the name has also been changed. The law will be free from doubt or apprehension for the people-jurists. When there is a new cyber security law, there will be no digital security law.