The Cyber Security Act, 2023 is a digital security law enacted in Bangladesh, replacing the

Digital Security Act, 2018 The Digital Security Act, 2018, was a digital security law in Bangladesh. This act was passed with the aim of preventing the spread of racism, sectarianism, extremism, terrorist propaganda, and hatred against religious or ethnic minorities throug ...

Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says that it has more than ten million members a ...

described it as a replication of the "

draconian Draconian is an adjective meaning "of excessive severity", that derives from Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offenses had heavy punishments ( Draconian laws). Draconian may also refer to: * Draconian (band) Draconian is a Sw ...

" Digital Security Act.

History

The Cyber Security Act, 2023 was passed by the

Parliament of Bangladesh The Jatiya Sangsad (), often simply referred to as Sangsad and also known as is the unicameral legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved exclusively for women. Elected ...

in September 2023 with provisions for punishing those filing fake cases under the act. It contains most of the provisions of Digital Security Act, 2018 and Section 57 of the

Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 The Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 is an act passed by the Parliament of Bangladesh in 2006 to promote and regulate ICT services in the country. Cybercrimes in Bangladesh are adjudicated by cyber tribunals established under this ...

. Amnesty International said it does not comply with "international human rights law". The law renamed Digital Security Agency to Cyber Security Agency.

Transparency International Bangladesh Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is the Bangladeshi branch of the Berlin-based Transparency International, a civil society organisation dedicated to fighting against corruption. History TIB started its activities in 1997, under found ...

and Article 19 have been critical of the law and its impact on the citizens of Bangladesh. During the Quota reforms protests, the law was used to file cases against those posting negative posts about then Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...

. After the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is the national association of Software and information and communication technologies companies in Bangladesh. History Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Serv ...

and Forum for Freedom of Expression Bangladesh called for the act to be repealed in August 2024. On May 22, 2025, The

interim government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...

repealed the Cyber Security Act, 2023 and introduced the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.

References

{{Reflist Law of Bangladesh Censorship in Bangladesh Freedom of the press 2023 in Bangladeshi law Acts of the Jatiya Sangsad