Govt issues gazette of Cyber Security Ordinance

The government has issued the gazette of the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025, to identify, prevent, suppress, and subsequently try the crimes committed in cyberspace to ensure cyber security.

Confirming the matter to BSS, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry spokesperson Dr Md Rezaul Karim said the gazette was issued on May 21, and the ordinance will come into effect immediately.

Earlier, on May 6, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said the ordinance would be announced within the week after vetting by the Ministry of Law Affairs.

The 32-page gazette stated that the President is formulating and issuing the ordinance as provisions regarding civil protection were inadequate in the Cyber Security Act, 2023. These inadequacies paved the way for abuse and oppression and undermined various fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.

With the announcement of the ordinance, the previous Cyber Security Act is cancelled.

The law adviser earlier said that in the ordinance, internet access has been recognised as a civic right for the first time. He added that online gambling has been banned, and repression and sexual harassment of children and women in cyberspace have been recognised as punishable offences.

“Releasing contents on repression and sexual harassment of women and children and spreading religious hatred, which exaggerates violence, have been identified as punishable offences under the ordinance.
Committing crimes using artificial intelligence has been recognised as an offence for the first time in South Asia,” Dr Asif Nazrul told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here after a meeting of the council of advisers.