The government now proposes sentencing a person up to 14 years of imprisonment for merely following “objectionable” posts on Facebook or other social media.
Information and Communications Technology Minister Mostafa Faruque Mohammad on Thursday tabled the proposal in a bill in parliament for amending the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 to include provisions to curb cybercrimes.
Defending the bill, Mostafa Faruque said it had been tabled “to stop misuse of the information and communication technology.”
The bill repeals the ICT (amendment) Ordinance 2013 which the rights groups termed a “black law.”
According to the bill, persons charged with cybercrimes would not get bail.
Bloggers Asif Mohiuddin, Mashiur Rahman Biplob, Subrata Adhikari Shuvo and Rasel Parvez, Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman and rights organisation Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman have been arrested in cases filed under the ICT act.
The cabinet approved the draft ICT (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 on August 19, proposing empowering law enforcers to arrest people without warrant for breaking the law and increasing the minimum jail term for the offence to seven years and maximum to 14 years.
The amendment was published in a gazette notification the next day.
In the original ICT Act 2006 enacted by the then BNP-Jamaat government, the maximum punishment for such offences was 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk10m.
Besides, police had to seek permission from the authorities concerned to file a case against and arrest anyone involved in crimes covered under the law.
The bill will now go to the parliamentary standing committee on the ICT ministry for further scrutiny and refer back to the House in seven days. The bill is set to pass in the current session of parliament.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira tabled the Vested Properties Return (second amendment) Bill 2013 to extend the deadline for application to get back someone’s property that turned vested to December 31 from June 30.
The amendment also proposes formation of more tribunals to expedite disposal of applications.
The bill was sent to the standing committee on land ministry for scrutiny.
The House also enacted a law on mandatory use of jute in packing.
