Transparency International Bangladesh today called upon the members of parliament and parliamentary committee on posts, telecommunications, and information technology ministry to redraft the Cyber Security Bill-2023 in light of international experiences and best practices.

In a statement, the Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based global anti-graft watchdog also urged MPs and the parliamentary body to discuss with experts and stakeholders to redraft the bill.

The bill incorporates repressive elements and bulk of the provisions from the controversial Digital Security Act-2018 but lacks many important elements which are required for a standard cyber security act as per international best practices, TIB said.

There are clauses in the bill that leave scope for authorities to "label" one's dissent voice or freethinking as offence while it also gives police ample power to enforce the law against freethinkers, it added.

TIB said it had submitted a workpaper titled "From Digital Security Act-2018 to Draft Cyber Security Act-2023: Comparative Analysis and Recommendations" via email to concerned authorities on Thursday.

In the workpaper, it urged the ministers, MPs, and relevant parliamentary body to play their strong role so that the CSA does not become a "weapon" like DSA to gag freedom of expression and freedom of press.

In a message with the workpaper, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman mentioned the decision to formulate CSA and repeal DSA proves the government's realisation regarding people's concern over the misuse of DSA, reads the statement.

Now, it logically comes in people's mind that elements that led to the decision to repeal DSA would not be incorporated in CSA, he said.

The new law's scope should specifically be to build necessary legal framework for the safe use of cyber infrastructures, internet and related other digital platforms, he added.