The Cabinet has cleared the Information and Technology (Amendment) Ordinance draft, proposing to enhance the punishment for any violation of the law to 14 years of imprisonment, from maximum of 10 years now.
Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the decision was taken during Monday’s usual cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The minimum punishment for breaching the law has been proposed to seven years in the draft,” he told reporters after the meeting.
The Information and Communication Act was formulated in 2006 incorporating highest punishment for breaking the law to 10 years imprisonment.
Law enforcers have recently arrested blogger Mashiur Rahman Biplob, Subrata Odhikar, Rasel Parvez, Asif Mohiuddin, Amar Desh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman and human rights body Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman in cases filed under this Act.
The Secretary said an ordinance will be issued to prevent ‘misuse’ of the Act.
“Some crimes were non-cognizable under the existing Act. But the new Act will make those cognizable. It means police will be allowed to arrest accused without any warrants,” he said.
He said under the new Act certain specific offences would be non-bailable.
He reminded reporters that previously home ministry’s approval was a must before filing any case.
“But now Police themselves will be able to file case taking crimes into cognizance under the new law,” he said.
When asked if cases can be filed under this law by someone who is personally affected, the Cabinet Secretary said, “The current law also allows an affected individual to file a case under it.”
Destroying information with a malicious intent, transfer of data without proper authority, hacking, release of vulgar and defaming information in the electronic media will all fall under this law.
When asked if the government is hastily amending this law following the arrest of Adilur Rahman secretary of rights group ‘Odhikar’, the Cabinet Secretary said, “This law was not made in haste. And no law is ever created for one man.”
Source: Bd news24