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Policy

Bangladesh plans for strict cyber-crime laws

By Alice Kok | 22 April 2009

Bangladesh is planning stringent measures to fight cyber crime amid the rapid expansion of the information and communications technology and telecommunications networks in the South Asian country.

Bangladesh’s ICT industry has been expanding exponentially and is making its presence strongly felt both in the public and private sectors. More than five million personal computers are now in use in the country with three million internet users, by industry estimates.

“We have taken steps to facilitate fair and secured use of information technology as the country lacks a complete law to deal with cyber crime,” says MM Neazuddin, Joint Secretary to the Science and ICT Ministry.

Neazuddin said that the government, which has pledged a “Digital Bangladesh” by the year 2021, had approved in principle to amend previous legislation calling for jail terms and heavy financial penalties to tackle new forms of crime.

The proposed law has suggested provisions for a maximum 10 years in jail and taka 10 million (US$150, 000) in fines for hacking into computer networks and putting false and libellous information or indecent material online.

For the speedy and effective prosecution of the offences, the government will consult with the Supreme Court to set up one or more Cyber Tribunals.

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