DHAKA: Law minister Anisul Haque said a new act will be introduced to prevent crimes happening through blogging.

Moreover, the Information and Technology Act (ICT)-2006 will be updated through necessary amendment, he added.

The minister came up with this assertion while speaking at a discussion on Information and Technology Act (ICT)-2006 in city’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel on Tuesday.

A London-based human rights organization ‘Article 19’ arranged the discussion.

The law minister said several crimes have been committed using the blog. So, a new law will be introduced to stop the sort of crimes.

According to the minister, killers of the bloggers will also face trial soon.

Noticeable that, some miscreants killed four bloggers and writers after giving them threats in social communication site using updated technology.

About the amendment of Information and Technology Act (ICT)-2006, Anisul said the sections 46 and 57 will also be amended soon.

However, Section 46:  Power of Controller to give directions in emergency.

— If the Controller is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, or security of Bangladesh, friendly relations of Bangladesh with other States, public order or for preventing incitement to commission of any cognizable offence, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government to intercept any information to be transmitted through any computer resource.

(2) The subscriber or any person in charge of a computer resource shall, when called upon by any agency to which direction has been issued under sub-section (1) of this section, extend all facilities and technical assistance to decrypt the information.

Section 57: Punishment for publishing fake, obscene or defaming information in electronic form.

— (1) If any person deliberately publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the website or in electronic form any material which is fake and obscene or its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it, or causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the State or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or organization, then this activity of his will be regarded as an offence.

(2) Whoever commits offence under sub-section (1) of this section he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and with fine which may extend to Taka one crore.

BDST: 1800 HRS, JUNE 09, 2015
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