BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rahul Kabir Rizvi on Monday feared that the proposed Cyber Security Act could be deadlier than the Digital Security Act (DSA).

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government has taken the move to transform the Digital Security Act as Cyber Security Act as an eyewash due to local and international pressure.

“I don't think anything good can come from the hands of a fascist regime when they are in power. We fear the Cyber Security Act will be more dire and dangerous than the Digital Security Act,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said the government has decided to replace the Digital Security Act with the Cyber Security Act 2023, in which some sections of the existing law will be amended.

Digital Security Act to be replaced by Cyber Security Act 2023

Rizvi said the country’s people now cannot express their opinion freely for the fear of being subjected to repression in jail and enforced disappearance.

“Now the right of assembly of political parties is at the discretion of the police. Voters have lost the right to bring their preferred party to power through a fair election. A subservient information system has been developed to falsify the truth constantly. Some sections of media are being used to spread misinformation and slander with the state patronage,” he observed.

The BNP leader alleged that the pro-democratic forces have been carrying out their fight for the restoration of democracy and their lost rights in the face of inhuman torture by the fascist regime.

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He alleged that the existence of the rule of law, justice and human dignity has been gradually removed from the country through the naked politicisation of the state forces.

The BNP leader alleged that the government has so far arrested around 500 BNP leaders and activists centring BNP’s grand rally and sit-in programmes in the capital held on July 28 and 29 respectively.

Besides, he claimed that 820 opposition leaders and activists were injured by the ruling party ‘cadres’ and law enforcers in different parts of the country.

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Rizvi said BNP leaders and workers have been harassed and repressed by police and intelligence agencies before and after July 28 and 29.

He said the law enforcers continued arresting the opposition leaders and activists by raiding their houses.

“A new dimension is being added to the incident of raiding the houses of BNP leaders and activists by the police and the detective police late at night. Family members are being picked up if leaders and workers are not found. Like the RAB, the detective police force has now become the epitome of terror as the force is now led by high officials loyal to Awami League,” Rizvi alleged.