The government has decided to swiftly withdraw the cases related to speech offenses filed under cyber laws.
Besides, people who were arrested in these cases will be granted immediate release through legal processes, according to a release signed by Dr. Md Rezaul Karim, public relations officer of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
As of August 2024, a total of 5,818 cases remained pending in eight cyber tribunals across the country under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, the Digital Security Act, 2018, and the Cyber Security Act, 2023.
Among these cases, those filed for expressing opinions through digital platforms were classified as “speech offenses,” while computer hacking or fraud through any digital device was identified as “computer offenses.”
Currently, there are 1,340 cases related to speech offenses, with 461 cases under investigation and 879 cases pending trial in the eight cyber tribunals of the country.
Of the ongoing speech offense cases, 279 fall under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 786 under the Digital Security Act, and 275 under the Cyber Security Act.
Among the 1,340 speech offense cases, the 879 cases will be swiftly withdrawn in coordination with the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Investigating officers will be instructed to promptly dispose of the 461 cases under investigation by submitting final reports, said the release.
