JS passes Digital security bill, 2018 keeping provision of tougher punishment

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SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 19, 2018 (BSS) – The ‘Digital Security Bill, 2018’ was passed in the parliament keeping a provision of minimum seven years and maximum fourteen years imprisonment and monetary fine of minimum Taka 25 lakh and maximum Taka one crore or both for illegal access and destruction of any important information related to the state affairs.

Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Mostafa Jabbar today moved the bill in the House which was unanimously passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

As per the proposed act, the minister said “the punishment will be life time imprisonment and monetary fine of Taka 5 crore if anybody found involved second time or more with the crime.”

Piloting the bill, he said the government will form a digital security agency and a digital security council. The 13-member digital security council will be formed heading Prime Minister as its chairman.

The other members of the council are Minister/state minister or deputy minister of post, telecommunication and information technology, Minister/state minister or deputy minister of law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Secretary of Post and Telecommunication Division, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Division, Secretary of Public Safety Division, Foreign Secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP), BTRC Chairman, Director General of Defense Intelligence Directorate and Director General of the Digital Security Council will act its member secretary.

Earlier, the bill was sent to concerned parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.