Home minister vows safeguards for journalists in cyber law.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today assured that the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026 will not be allowed to become a repressive law and that journalists and media outlets will be protected from its misuse.
"We did not want to make this law targeting the media and we do not want that. Our main objective is to ensure that no journalist becomes a victim of misuse of the law," he said.
The minister made the remarks while briefing journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat following a consultation meeting with editors, journalists and representatives of print and electronic media on the draft legislation.
The meeting was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury, ministry Secretary Mahbuba Farjana and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Salahuddin said the government would finalise the bill only after extensive consultations with IT experts, media professionals, human rights organisations and other stakeholders.
He said the draft legislation had already been published on the government website to seek public opinion following a Cabinet directive for wider consultations.
Opinions have so far been received from various institutions, human rights groups, students and cyberspace users, which are being reviewed by the government, he said.
At the meeting, Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam proposed further consultations between media and cybersecurity experts to ensure that the law does not adversely affect journalists and that appropriate safeguards, including a "saving clause", are incorporated into it.
"The government has accepted the proposal," the minister said.
A key proposal discussed at the meeting was to make prior court approval mandatory before taking action against or arresting a journalist, he said.
Stakeholders will submit formal recommendations on the proposal within 15 days, which will then be considered for possible inclusion in the draft, he added.
The government also plans to set a specific time limit for the disposal of cases and appeals to prevent people from remaining entangled in legal proceedings indefinitely, the minister said.
The Principal Information Officer has been designated as the focal point for coordinating the consultation process, while the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will jointly oversee it.
Representatives of media organisations and cybersecurity experts will participate in the next phase and are expected to submit specific recommendations within seven to 15 days.
After reviewing the recommendations, the revised draft will again be published on the government website to allow the public and stakeholders another opportunity to provide feedback before it is placed before the Cabinet.
The minister said the bill would subsequently undergo inter-ministerial review before being placed before the Cabinet.
"If approved, it would be introduced in Parliament," he said.
Salahuddin also said the government would not rush the legislation through Parliament. Parliamentary discussions, as well as views expressed at seminars and symposiums outside Parliament, would be considered before its finalisation.
The proposed law is intended to create a balanced framework to protect the country and its citizens, particularly young people, from cybercrime while safeguarding social and religious harmony, family values and local culture in line with international standards, the minister said.
