Home Minister Vows No Misuse of Cyber Security Act Against Journalists

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026 will not be allowed to become an oppressive law, assuring that recommendations from journalists, media organisations and other stakeholders will be considered to safeguard press freedom.

He made the remarks at a press briefing on Monday after a consultation meeting with editors, journalists and representatives of print and electronic media at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Salahuddin said the government was particularly cautious to ensure that no journalist or media outlet becomes a victim of misuse of the proposed legislation. He said the draft law would be finalised only after extensive consultations with IT experts, media professionals, rights organisations and other sections of society.

The minister said the draft bill had earlier been placed before the Cabinet, which directed the authorities to hold broader consultations with cyberspace experts and relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, the draft was published on the government website to collect public feedback and prevent the law from becoming an oppressive tool.

He said opinions had already been received from various institutions, human rights organisations, students and cyberspace users and had been compiled by the government.

Monday’s meeting was the second consultation with media stakeholders. At the first meeting with editors on September 10, participants were asked to submit detailed written recommendations at the next meeting or through the government website.

Referring to Monday’s discussions, Salahuddin said Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam proposed allowing more time for detailed consultations involving media and cyber experts and including necessary safeguards to ensure journalists and media organisations were not unfairly targeted.

The government has accepted the proposal, the minister said.

“We did not want to make this law targeting the media, and we do not want that. Our main goal is to ensure that no journalist becomes a victim of misuse of the law,” he said.

A key proposal discussed at the meeting was to make prior court approval mandatory before taking legal action against or arresting journalists working for newspapers, television, online outlets and other media organisations. Salahuddin said the government considers the proposal reasonable.

Stakeholders will have 15 days to submit formal recommendations, which will then be considered for incorporation into the draft. The minister also said a specific time limit would be proposed for resolving cases and appeals so that individuals are not left in prolonged legal uncertainty.

A special coordination mechanism has also been formed to oversee the consultation process. The Principal Information Officer has been designated as the focal point, while the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will jointly coordinate the process.

Representatives of the Editors Guild, the Electronic Media Association and a cyber-expert panel formed by the IT Ministry will also participate.

Salahuddin said stakeholders would submit recommendations within seven to 15 days, after which the concerned ministries and committee members would meet to review them.

The revised draft will subsequently be published on the government website again before being sent to the Cabinet, providing the public with another opportunity to submit feedback. Recommendations considered acceptable will be incorporated into the draft.

The bill will then undergo a final review at an inter-ministerial meeting before being placed before the Cabinet. If approved, it will be sent to Parliament.

The minister said the legislation would not be rushed through Parliament, adding that both government and opposition lawmakers would participate in discussions. Views expressed through seminars and symposiums outside Parliament would also be considered before the final decision.

Salahuddin said the proposed law aims to create a balanced legal framework to protect the country and society from cybercrime and criminal activities, particularly those affecting young people.

He added that the legislation would also seek to protect social and religious harmony, family values and Bangladesh’s cultural heritage while remaining consistent with international standards.