Online Desk/

Human rights organization Amnesty International has called for the draconian provisions of the proposed Cyber Security Act (CSA) to be withdrawn.

The agency said the proposed draft was inconsistent with international human rights law. It should be modified significantly. This should be made consistent with international human rights law.

The agency’s interim deputy regional director for South Asia, Nadia Rahman, said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 31) that the proposed CSA is essentially a copy of the stringent Digital Security Act (DSA).

The proposed law also retains the repressive features of the earlier law. They have been used to threaten and restrict the right to freedom of speech.

The statement said the proposed law could be used to intimidate, harass and arrest journalists and human rights defenders, suppress peaceful dissent and silence critical voices. The law aims to protect human rights; Criticism is not suppression.

It is to be noted that last Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the Cabinet meeting at her office and the final approval of the Cyber Security Act was given. The Cabinet gave final approval to the four non-bailable sections for offenses related to illegal access to critical information infrastructure, damage to computers and computer systems, cyber terrorist activities and hacking.