New Delhi: The International Press Institute has welcomed the “repeal and replacement” of the draconian Digital Security Act in Bangladesh, but called for consultation with civil society to ensure that proposed Cyber Security Act is compatible with international human rights.Since its inception in 2018, the Digital Security Act has been repeatedly employed to target journalists and suppress dissent. The Vienna-based media watchdog had highlighted that at least nine journalists faced complaints under the DSA between October 2022 and March 2023.Earlier this month, the Bangladeshi government responded to widespread concerns and announced its intention to replace the Digital Security Act with the Cyber Security Act. The replacement entails the repeal or amendment of existing DSA provisions, along with the introduction of new penalties for hacking-related offences.On August 7, a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina granted in-principle approval for the draft Cyber Security Act.“The IPI global network welcomes the recent decision by the Bangladeshi government to repeal and replace the Digital Security Act, which has been repeatedly abused for years to harass and intimidate journalists. However, authorities must now consult with local civil society and human rights experts to ensure the proposed replacement, the Cyber Security Act, is fully compatible with domestic and international laws protecting freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom,” said IPI in a statement.Earlier this year in May, IPI sent an open letter to PM Hasina urging her government to review the DSA and to ensure that journalists can work without fear of intimidation and harassment.One of the most recent invocations of DSA was in July when a private complaint was registered against two journalists, when they accidentally published a report about the resignation of Cambodia’s prime minister with a photo of the Bangladesh PM. The newspaper had apologised the very next day.While welcoming the Bangladesh government’s decision to replace the DSA, IPI’s head of advocacy Amy Brouillette added, “However, the government must now work with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the Cyber Security Act abides by national and international commitments to press freedom and does not revive the problematic provisions of the DSA”.She reiterated that Bangladesh authorities should take “further concrete action to improve the environment for independent journalism in the country, including by reviewing all criminal laws impacting freedom of the press, ceasing all forms of ‘lawfare’ against the press, ensuring reported cases of violence or intimidation against journalists and media workers are investigated transparently and independently, and holding those responsible for crimes against journalists to account”.