Bangladesh - August 2023

On 8 August, Bangladesh's cabinet announced the replacement of the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA) with the Cyber Security Act (CSA), set for parliamentary introduction in September. The DSA, criticized for stifling free speech and targeting journalists, has led to over 7000 cases filed since 2018. While a positive step, experts warn the new law retains DSA's repressive elements, including vague provisions susceptible to misuse. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan observed that the CSA doesn't align with UN recommendations, and Transparency International called for more stakeholder consultation, noting that "the draft CSA is essentially a renamed version of the DSA, with only a few alterations in the form of reduced severity of punishments."

Sources:  The Daily Star (1), The Daily Star (2), Amnesty International, The Diplomat, Transparency International