Forum for Freedom of Expression Bangladesh (FExB) has called on the interim government to immediately repeal the Cyber Security Act and introduce democratic, humane, and participatory laws and policies.
The demand was made during a press conference held on Thursday at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
“All the cases filed under the repressive Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, Digital Security Act, 2018, and the Cyber Security Act, 2023, should be cancelled. The interim government should issue an ordinance and repeal the Cyber Security Act,” said FExB member Rezaur Rahman Lenin.
FExB demanded the release of the victims of the Information and Communication Technology Act, Digital Security Act and Cyber Security Act.
Dr Syeda Aireen Jaman, president of FExB, emphasized that the Cyber Security Act must be completely repealed and cannot be amended in any way.
“The process of formulating the Cyber Security Act was illegal. The Act was proposed without public participation and was hastily passed into law,” added FExB general secretary Saleem Samad.
Ahamed Ullah from Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), Khairuzzaman Kamal from South Asian Media Solidarity Network, Rezwan Islam from Global Voices, media rights activist Mainul Islam Khan, human rights activist and lawyer Sharmin Khan, development worker Shameem Ara Sheuli and human rights activist and researcher Rezaur Rahman Lenin were present at the event.
