Information Adviser Md Nahid Islam stated that the Ministry of Law has been directed not to act or make arrests in cases currently filed under the Cyber Security Act (CSA).
He emphasized that the government is reviewing repressive laws like the CSA to protect freedom of speech and has advised against taking action on ongoing cases.
Recent CSA cases involve defamatory remarks on social media targeting Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and other officials.
A case was filed against Md Masum Billah for making threats and defamatory comments about Dr. Yunus, while another case was filed against Moktar Hossain for religious defamation and targeting officials.
From 2018 to 2023, 1,036 cases were filed under the Digital Security Act, now CSA, affecting 4,520 individuals, including political leaders and journalists. Despite a low conviction rate, many remain in jail.
Critics like Sharifuzzaman and Sakib Anwar have condemned the CSA, calling for its repeal, citing it as repressive and used to silence dissent.
Human rights activist Nur Khan and lawyer Manzil Morshed have urged the government to prevent further misuse of the law while it’s under review.
