Dhaka, September 14, 2026—Bangladesh’s government must immediately withdraw or substantially revise proposed amendments to the Cyber Protection Act that would criminalize reporting officials deem unverified, and grant authorities the power to block journalists’ work and deregister news outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.
The draft amendments, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting discussed with select members of the media at a September 10
consultation session
, include a new criminal offense for circulating “rumor” and “misinformation” online that carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison or a heavy fine, according to multiple
news
reports
.
In the bill’s current form, online material could be in violation of the law if authorities decide it is “unsubstantiated or unverified” and it creates public confusion, panic, or unrest. Cases would be tried before a specialized court, the Cyber Tribunal, that hears cases under Bangladesh’s digital and cyber laws.
News outlets could also be convicted of violating the law and courts would be
empowered
to suspend or cancel the company’s license to operate.
“The sweeping amendments to Bangladesh’s Cyber Protection Act are so broad that they could undermine press freedom,” said CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder. “Journalists must be able to publish independently sourced and fact-checked information, including information authorities have not approved. Bangladesh has a history of cybercrime laws being misused to target journalists, and the current government should not repeat that pattern under the guise of fighting misinformation.”
Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman
said
the draft amendments were aimed at stopping disorder on social media and protecting social harmony.
Bangladesh has a track record of using
cybercrime legislation
against journalists in politically motivated cases. Under the previous Awami League government, at
