The Bangladesh cabinet on Monday approved a draft law, with a provision for life-term imprisonment and Tk1 crore fine for “carrying out propaganda” against the Liberation war and the nation’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the electronic media .
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the purpose of the law is to check cyber crimes.
“As per the proposed law, if anybody conducts propaganda against the War of Liberation and its spirit, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through the electronic media, he or she will face imprisonment and Tk1 crore fine or both as punishment,” he said.
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The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The draft law was approved against the backdrop of a cyber campaign by a section of the people questioning the legacy of the Liberation War.
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Under the new law, any kind of dishonouring campaign using computers, mobile phones or other electronic devices will lead to a minimum of two years imprisonment or a maximum of 14 years or Tk1 crore fine. In line with the Digital Security Law, the government will also form a Digital Security Agency, the secretary said.
The draft law has another provision which says anyone trying to illegally access any information site will face 14 years’ imprisonment or Tk1 crore fine or both. Also, anyone committing forgery using electronic devices will be fined by up to Tk3 lakh.
Religious sentimentsHurting religious sentiments and indulging in defamation using electronic devices will also be punished by 2 years’ imprisonment and Tk3 lakh fine.
Anyone using fake identity to threaten people will be handed with 5 years’ imprisonment and Tk3 lakh fine. Also, those trying to harm the country’s stability and its law and order will face 5 years’ imprisonment and Tk3 lakh fine.
Besides, those who hack into the country’s information infrastructure face being jailed for up to 14 years and fined Tk1 crore.