The controversial Cyber Security Act-2023, which was passed by the former Awami League (AL) government, will be repealed by the government.
The Cyber Security Act (Repeal) Ordinance-2024 draft was adopted in principle by the council of advisors at its meeting today.
Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting, which took place in the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
About the outcomes of the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the fascist Awami League government transformed the Digital Security Act into the Cyber Security Act last year but its objectives were the same.
“Its aim was to oppress the voices of people and dissident voices. And you know how many people were harassed using the Digital Security Act,” he told a press briefing at Foreign Service Academy here.
Mentioning that many people from minority communities were harassed using the act, Alam said the council of advisers at its meeting has decided to repeal the Cyber Security Act.
After the repeal of the Cyber Security Act, he said a new law will be formulated to ensure the safety of vulnerable groups including women and children, who use the cyber space, and to protect the financial institutions, including banks.
Alam said the council of advisers also decided to prepare documentation on the expenditure of ‘Mujib Year’.
He said a list will be prepared on how the ministries spent money and the sectors of expenditures marking the Mujib Year.
On the occasion, the press secretary said, the money was spent from not only public exchequer but many private companies were forced to spend money.
“Many were forced to set up Mujib Corners and many were compelled to build sculptures of Mujib. There was an excitement to spend money of people,” he said, adding that the documentation would be prepared to know how much money was wasted on Mujib Year. The council of advisers discussed the draft of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 and decided to form a high-power committee, headed by Finance Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed, he said.
The press secretary stated that tobacco usage is harmful to the public’s health and that the tobacco industry generates a significant amount of revenue, citing estimates that approximately 35% of the nation’s population smokes tobacco.
He stated that the committee will re-examine the tobacco control law after taking everything into account.
According to Alam, the advisers also made the decision to update the Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) medicine list, which is held by the Bangladeshi government.
According to him, necessary drugs are a major concern worldwide, which is why they talked about expanding the list of essential drugs to safeguard the underprivileged who are impacted by the high cost of medications.
A taskforce will be formed soon in this regard and it will sit together with all stakeholders concerned, he added.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Apurba Jahangir were present at the press briefing.
