Tough law to combat cyber crimes soon
UNB
Observing that cyber crime is more serious than murder and rape, Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said there will be provisions of maximum 14 years imprisonment in the proposed Digital Security Act-2016, aiming to tackle the menace, reports UNB. He revealed this while talking to reporters after a meeting on the draft of the proposed law at the Secretariat. The minister said sections 54, 55, 56 and 57 of the existing ICT Act will be incorporated in the new law. He also said the minimum punishment for cyber crime will be decided as per its gravity. Anisul also hoped that concerns over the section 57 of the ICT Act will go once the Digital Security Act is in place. Offence under this provision of the ICT Act is punishable by at least seven years in prison and 14 years imprisonment at the most. Fine can be as high as Tk 10 million. The law was passed in 2006 and amended twice in 2009 and 2013. In the latest amendment, offence under the Section 57 was made non-bailable and the maximum penalty was extended to 14-year imprisonment. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who attended Sundays meeting, said the law will address the issues in a clearer manner. The offences stipulated in Section 57 of ICT Act are defined more precisely in the new law, he said. It also elaborates on sections 54, 55, 56, and 57, he said. More discussions will be held before finalising the draft to avoid inconsistencies between the new law and the ICT Act, he said. Palak said the bailability of the offences punishable under the new law will be fixed later. He said the law needs to be formulated because ICT is the most important issue now.
