Executive Summary
Since 2013, the current and former cybercrime laws in Bangladesh—the Cyber Security Act (CSA), the Digital Security Act (DSA), and the Information, Communication and Technology Act (ICT Act)—have been used against human rights defenders, including activists, journalists, students, and others exercising their right to freedom of expression. The current Interim Government of Bangladesh, which has recently formed following a wave of recent protests across the country, is currently in a position to reevaluate Bangladesh’s cybercrime legislation and remedy the impacts these laws have had on human rights defenders.
This report provides a brief overview of the current and former cybercrime legislation in Bangladesh and its use against human rights defenders, concluding that the overly broad provisions of the CSA and its predecessor laws are inconsistent with Bangladesh’s obligations under domestic and international law. The report concludes with recommendations for the current Interim Government of Bangladesh to repeal or substantially amend the current cybercrime provisions to align them with Bangladesh’s international obligations. This report also recommends the current Interim Government dismiss all cybercrime cases currently pending against human rights defenders and provide access to justice and reparations for human rights defenders and individuals unjustly charged under these laws, including individuals who suffered torture or died in pretrial detention.