Editors and journalist leaders also opposed the inclusion of mobile courts in the draft law.Addressing these concerns, the government decided, as proposed by The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, to form a committee comprising journalists and cyber experts.
Special Correspondent : The government has decided to review the proposed draft of the Cyber Protection Act amendment at an expert level, with a review committee set to recommend the legal safeguards necessary to ensure that media outlets and journalists do not face harassment under the law.
The decision was taken at a consultation meeting with media stakeholders to review the draft of the “Cyber Protection (Amendment) Act, 2026” at at the Secretariat today.Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source google-preferred-source-badgeIt was the second meeting on the proposed draft since September 10.
The committee will include representatives from editors’ and journalists’ organisations, alongside information technology experts. It will submit its recommendations to the government within 15 days.
Its size and composition have not yet been finalised. Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad will serve as the focal point, coordinating with the Editors’ Council, the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) and journalists’ organisations to form the committee and convene meetings.
At the meeting, journalists acknowledged the need for a cyber protection law, but called for keeping the media out of its purview, citing how such legislation has historically been used against journalists.
Editors and journalist leaders also opposed the inclusion of mobile courts in the draft law.Addressing these concerns, the government decided, as proposed by The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, to form a committee comprising journalists and cyber experts.
Reacting to the outcome, Mahfuz Anam said, “The values we expect from the current democratic government are not reflected in this draft law. The government is enacting a law that shoots itself in the foot, which is why I am opposing it.”
He added that the government must recognise the reality of implementation alongside the enactment of laws. He also thanked the government for accepting the proposal to form the review committee.
Speaking at the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, “We have not taken the initiative to amend the Cyber Protection Act targeting the media. We also do not want any journalist to fall victim to it, nor do we want this law to be misused.”
