Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Monday said the Cyber Security Act 2023, which is replacing the Digital Security Act 2018, won't have jail terms provision for defamation.

The journalists, however, will be fined the highest Tk 25 lakh or have to suffer three or six months more in prison in this regard.

Earlier this morning, the cabinet decided to change the name 'Digital Security Act' to 'Cyber Security Act' with some necessary amendments.

The Law Minister said, "Section 29 of the DSA deals with the defamation trial."

According to that section, if a person publishes defamatory information as described in Section 499 of the penal code on a website or any other electronic format, he will have to be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or with imprisonment not exceeding Tk 5 lakh taka or with the both.

The jail punishment has been scrapped in the new act.

BDST: 1735 HRS, AUGUST 07, 2023
MSK/SMS