The Bangladeshi government has announced a sweeping overhaul of its digital regulatory framework, with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed confirming that the state is preparing to amend the Cyber Security Act. Speaking before the Jatiya Sangsad, the Minister outlined an urgent need to combat the rising tide of misinformation, rumors, and defamation plaguing the nation’s digital landscape. The proposed legislative changes are specifically designed to address the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence-generated content, which has been weaponized to spread false narratives, manipulate public opinion, and harass individuals across social media platforms.
The move comes in response to growing concerns raised in Parliament regarding the lack of accountability for global technology giants. Lawmaker Helen Zerin Khan highlighted the proliferation of fake identities, coordinated bot networks, and malicious disinformation campaigns that target political figures, institutions, and the state itself. She argued that the current digital environment, dominated by AI-generated images, deepfake audio, and defamatory videos, poses a severe risk to national stability and individual security. The Minister concurred, noting that harmful content is frequently circulated under the guise of free speech, necessitating a fundamental redefinition of what constitutes protected expression in the digital age.
A centerpiece of the proposed legal reform is the introduction of strict, time-bound obligations for international social media platforms, most notably Meta. The Minister pointed out that the current regulatory structure, overseen by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), lacks the “teeth” to legally compel these corporations to act within narrow timeframes. While authorities currently send requests for the removal of harmful content, foreign companies often cite the inadequacy of Bangladesh’s existing legal framework to delay or ignore such directives. The new legislation aims to rectify this, establishing protocols similar to those in neighboring countries that mandate content removal within as little as 24 hours.
Furthermore, the government intends to broaden the scope of the Cyber Security Act 2026 to include clearer, more precise definitions for misinformation and defamatory material, backed by significantly harsher penalties for those who disseminate such content. By empowering law enforcement, cybersecurity units, and the BTRC with the authority to block, restrict, or remove harmful material, the state hopes to bring all virtual media and social platforms under a cohesive and robust legal umbrella. This initiative signals a transition toward a more tightly monitored digital environment where platform accountability is prioritized over the current, largely unregulated status quo.
Beyond the digital sphere, the Home Minister shared plans to modernize other aspects of law enforcement and public order. Emphasizing the need to replace antiquated colonial-era laws, he announced that a new Gambling Prevention Act is in its final drafting stage, intended to replace legislation that has been in effect since 1867. This update aims to curb the rapid growth of both online and offline gambling operations that have increasingly become a focal point for criminal activity. The government maintains that these legal updates are essential to addressing the evolving nature of crime in the 21st century.
Finally, the government is focusing on a comprehensive restructuring of the Department of Narcotics Control as part of its broader reform agenda. Minister Ahmed admitted that current state agencies lack the necessary training, advanced laboratory facilities, and tactical equipment—such as specialized dog squads—to effectively neutralize sophisticated drug-trafficking networks. By strengthening the organization’s capabilities and revising the Narcotics Control Act, the government aims to turn the department into a self-sufficient, high-tech force. These multifaceted reforms represent a concerted effort by the current administration to fortify national security and restore order across both the physical and virtual domains.
