Dhaka, September 14, 2026—Bangladesh’s government must immediately withdraw or substantially revise proposed amendments to the Cyber Protection Act that would criminalize reporting officials deem unverified, and grant authorities the power to block journalists’ work and deregister news outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
The draft amendments, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting discussed with select members of the media at a September 10 consultation session, include a new criminal offense for circulating “rumor” and “misinformation” online that carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison or a heavy fine, according to multiple news reports.
In the bill’s current form, online material could be in violation of the law if authorities decide it is “unsubstantiated or unverified” and it creates public confusion, panic, or unrest. Cases would be tried before a specialized court, the Cyber Tribunal, that hears cases under Bangladesh’s digital and cyber laws.
News outlets could also be convicted of violating the law and courts would be empowered to suspend or cancel the company’s license to operate.
“The sweeping amendments to Bangladesh’s Cyber Protection Act are so broad that they could undermine press freedom,” said CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder. “Journalists must be able to publish independently sourced and fact-checked information, including information authorities have not approved. Bangladesh has a history of cybercrime laws being misused to target journalists, and the current government should not repeat that pattern under the guise of fighting misinformation.”
Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman said the draft amendments were aimed at stopping disorder on social media and protecting social harmony.
Bangladesh has a track record of using cybercrime legislation against journalists in politically motivated cases. Under the previous Awami League government, at least 255 journalists were sued under the Digital Security Act that governed online speech and digital offenses between 2018 and 2023. Writer Mushtaq Ahmed, who was charged under the act, died in custody after nine months in pretrial detention.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not immediately respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.
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