By Hemayet Hossain

The history of enacting digital security and cyber legislation in Bangladesh has largely been a chronicle of imposing fresh shackles on independent journalism and freedom of thought. Following prolonged apprehension over the deeply controversial Digital Security Act and its subsequent iteration, the Cyber Security Act, the drafting of the new 'Cyber Security Act 2026' was met with a single imperative expectation from the journalistic community: that it would pave the way for unhindered freedom of expression. However, the profound anxiety and discontent expressed by key stakeholders and media leaders over various provisions of the draft make one thing abundantly clear—the habit of serving old wine in a new bottle has yet to be dispelled.

The concerns voiced by media editors and journalist leaders during yesterday's consultation meeting with Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed were not mere formal rhetoric; they represented a desperate plea for the sheer survival of Bangladesh’s press. Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, President of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), delivered a stark warning, noting that if provisions allowing the penalization of journalists—particularly through summary mechanisms like mobile courts—are retained, the entire country will effectively turn into a prison.

Sharing the same platform, Hassan Hafiz, President of the National Press Club, and Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star, alongside other senior media representatives, unequivocally opposed the repressive clauses of the draft bill. Their core demand remains uncompromising: strip away all controversial and punitive provisions to formulate a genuinely journalist-friendly law without delay.

The harsh reality is that independent journalism in Bangladesh currently confronts an unprecedented crisis. Under direct and indirect pressures, self-censorship has taken a firm hold across newsrooms. Fearing harassment or legal prosecution simply for reporting the truth, journalists find themselves forced to edit their own pens daily. When members of the press are compelled to operate under such a pervasive climate of fear within a supposed democracy, it signals a grave institutional failure that undermines the entire governance framework.

While the government may require legal instruments to curb genuine cybercrime and safeguard public order, any legislation that opens the door to arbitrary harassment of journalists cannot pass off as a "security law."

Retaining provisions that serve as tools of oppression will yield no positive outcome for the government. Treating the fourth estate as an adversary and attempting to silence free speech ultimately dismantles the rule of law. When the space for free media collapses, the very notion of constitutional governance becomes an empty shell.

The administration must heed this clear message from media leaders and stakeholders. Securing cyberspace and safeguarding free expression are not mutually exclusive goals; a balanced legal framework is entirely achievable. The draft bill must be thoroughly purged of every clause that imperils free commentary or leaves journalists vulnerable to abuse.

An uninhibited, free press is the cornerstone of any democratic society. If the government is truly committed to fostering an accountable and equitable Bangladesh, it must recognize that democracy cannot be built by turning journalists into adversaries.

Rather than allowing the Cyber Security Act 2026 to degenerate into an instrument of coercion, reforming it into a modern, protective, and journalist-friendly law is the urgent need of the hour.