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Interim Government Takes Key Step to Repeal Cyber Security Act
Rtv News
07 Nov 2024, 17:11
Photo: Collected
In a meeting of the interim government’s advisory council, a policy decision has been made to repeal the controversial Cyber Security Act.
The decision was made on Thursday, November 7, at a meeting held at the Chief Advisor's Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, presided over by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Following the meeting, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the advisor on environment, forests, and climate change, confirmed this information.
Previously, on October 3, Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul stated that the Cyber Security Act should indeed be repealed, indicating that this was the direction the government was heading toward and that it would ultimately be abolished. He also mentioned that any future legislation should primarily focus on ensuring cybersecurity and protecting citizens.
Earlier this week, Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Md. Nahid Islam, announced that the law would be repealed soon.
The controversial Digital Security Act was enacted in 2018 during the tenure of the Awami League government. Following severe criticism, the Digital Security Act was repealed in 2023 and replaced by the Cyber Security Act. However, this also sparked significant debate and criticism, with objections raised by journalists and various other groups. Today, the interim government has made a policy decision to repeal the law.
On September 30, the Ministry of Law issued a notice stating that the government had decided to withdraw cases related to “speech offenses” (freedom of expression) under the Cyber Security Act.
Additionally, the Ministry of Law stated that any individuals detained in these cases would be immediately released through legal procedures.
Meanwhile, as of August of this year, a total of 5,818 cases were pending across eight cyber tribunals under the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006, the Digital Security Act of 2018, and the Cyber Security Act of 2023.
Furthermore, there are currently 1,340 active cases related to “speech offenses.” Among these, 279 cases fall under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 786 under the Digital Security Act, and 275 under the Cyber Security Act. Out of these cases, 461 are under investigation by law enforcement agencies, while 879 cases are under trial in the country's eight cyber tribunals.
It is noteworthy that cases filed for freedom of expression in digital media are categorized as “speech offenses,” while cases of computer hacking or fraud involving digital devices are classified as “computer offenses.”
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23 New Judges Appointed to the High Court Division
Twenty-three new judges have been appointed to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. They are scheduled to take their oaths today, Wednesday, October 9.
On Tuesday, October 8, the Ministry of Law issued a notification regarding their appointment on the orders of the President. The notification was signed by Md. Golam Rabbani, Secretary of the Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
According to the notification, the President has appointed the following 23 individuals as additional judges of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh for a maximum term of two years, effective from the date of their oath-taking, under the authority granted by Article 98 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
The newly appointed judges are—Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder, Syed Enayet Hossain, Md. Mansur Alam, Syed Zahed Mansur, K M Rasheduzzaman Raja, Md. Jabed Hossain, Mubeena Asaf, Kazi Waliul Islam, Aynun Nahar Siddika, Md. Abdul Mannan, Tamanna Rahman, Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud, Md. Hamidur Rahman, Nasrin Akhter, Sathika Hossain, Syed Mohammad Tajrul Hossain, Md. Tawfiq Inam, Yusuf Abdullah Suman, Sheikh Tahsin Ali, Fayez Ahmed, Md. Sagir Hossain, Shikdar Mahmudur Razi, and Debashish Roy Chowdhury.
According to sources from the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed will administer the oath to the newly appointed 23 judges at the Judges' Lounge of the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, October 9.
Notably, this is the largest judicial appointment in the Supreme Court since the fall of the Awami League government following the anti-discrimination student movement.
Sharadiya Durga Puja Begins, Today is Maha Shashthi
The biggest religious festival for the followers of Sanatan Hinduism, Sharadiya Durga Puja, begins today, Wednesday (October 9), with Maha Shashthi. The five-day-long festival will conclude on Sunday (October 13) with the immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami.
The formalities of the festival will commence with the invitation of Devi Shashthi. The ritual of "Mahashashthi Kalprarambha" must be completed by 8:01 AM. In the evening, the Devi will be invited and installed. Although the festival’s formalities began with Mahalaya on October 2, the main celebrations are starting today.
Temples across the country have already been decorated to welcome Devi Durga. Reports indicate that this year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 32,666 mandaps nationwide.
A continuous four-day public holiday will further amplify the festive atmosphere. The government has announced a holiday on Thursday through an executive order, adding to the regular weekend holidays of Friday and Saturday. Thus, there will be a continuous break from Thursday to Sunday, with Bijoya Dashami on Sunday being a public holiday.
Devi Durga is believed to protect her devotees from obstacles, fear, sorrow, grief, and suffering. According to scriptures, another meaning of Durga’s name is "one who is attained through suffering." She tests people’s endurance through hardship, and if they call upon her without losing patience, she alleviates their pain.
The "Maha Chandi" mentions that in the Treta Yuga, Lord Rama worshiped Devi Mahamaya, seeking strength to defeat the demon king Ravana. He performed this worship during the autumn, and with the goddess’s blessing, he emerged victorious, rescuing Devi Sita and defeating Ravana. Since then, followers of the Sanatan Dharma have been celebrating Durga Puja every autumn.
According to the Loknath calendar, today is Maha Shashthi, tomorrow is Maha Saptami, Friday is Maha Ashtami, Saturday is Maha Navami, and the festival will end on Sunday (October 13) with the immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami.
To ensure security at the temples, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has opened a control room and has taken measures for the central mandap in the city.
The Armed Forces will be deployed for the security of the mandaps. On Monday (October 7), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Mainul Islam visited the Dhakeshwari Temple to inspect security arrangements for Sharadiya Durga Puja. After the inspection, he informed reporters that more than 31,000 mandaps will celebrate the puja this year. He assured that there would be no room for any disorder at these mandaps. Control rooms have been set up at every upazila, district, and police headquarters to ensure security.
He added that other law enforcement agencies have also ensured comprehensive security at the mandaps. Patrols have been increased in all areas before the puja. Ansar and VDP (Village Defense Party) forces have already been deployed. They will work from Bodhon and Shashthi Puja onwards at all mandaps. In addition, members of the Armed Forces will also be stationed and will take part in securing the festival. Mobile teams and striking forces will remain on standby. Volunteers, along with Ansar forces, are also active, leaving no room for any chaos or ill-intentions.
5-day Festival Schedule:
The formalities of Durga Puja began with Mahalaya on October 2. However, the main celebrations start today, Wednesday (October 9), with Maha Shashthi. The festival will end on Dashami with the immersion of the idols. This year, Devi Durga will arrive on a palanquin and depart for heaven on a horse.
According to temple sources, the following schedule is in place:
October 9 (24 Ashwin): Maha Shashthi Kalprarambha must be completed by 8:01 AM, followed by the invitation and installation of the Devi in the evening.
October 10 (25 Ashwin): Maha Saptami Puja, including the Nabapatrika entry and installation, must be completed by 7:53 AM, followed by the distribution of clothes.
October 11 (26 Ashwin): Maha Ashtami Puja begins at 7:17 AM, with the crucial Sandhi Puja between 6:52 AM and 7:41 AM. Maha Prasad will be distributed in the afternoon.
October 12 (27 Ashwin): Maha Navami Puja must be completed by 6:12 AM, and Durga Dashami Puja must be concluded by 8:26 AM, followed by the immersion of the mirror.
October 13 (28 Ashwin): There will be a voluntary blood donation event at noon, followed by the Bijoya procession at 4 PM.
Another LPG-carrying Ship Catches Fire, Sailors Rescued
Two LPG carriers, Sufia and Captain Nicholas, caught fire in the Kutubdia Channel of the Bay of Bengal. As of the latest reports, the crew members of both ships have been rescued. The incident occurred around 1 AM on Saturday, October 12.
Captain Md. Zahurul Haque of the Coast Guard Eastern Zone (Chattogram) confirmed the event early Sunday, October 13.
He stated, "Upon receiving the news, the Coast Guard immediately deployed a tug ship and three metal shark vessels to extinguish the fire."
Kutubdia Upazila’s acting executive officer, Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, mentioned, "We have informed senior administration officials, the Navy, and the Coast Guard about the fire on the anchored ship in the deep sea."
Senior mariner Atik U. Khan explained, "The fire broke out during the separation of the LPG carrier Sufia from the mother vessel Nicholas after a lightering operation. Given that four ships in the country have experienced fires and explosions in just 12 days, an investigation is needed to determine whether this could be sabotage."
It is noteworthy that two Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessels carrying crude oil for the Eastern Refinery caught fire in Patenga, Chattogram. BSC had expressed concerns about possible sabotage following the separate incidents.
Repatriation of Rohingyas is the Only Solution: Foreign Affairs Advisor
The only solution to the Rohingya crisis is to send them back to Myanmar, said Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain.
He made these remarks on Monday, October 14, at an event held at a hotel in the capital.
The advisor emphasized that the presence of Rohingyas is becoming harmful to Bangladesh’s security and environment. "Repatriating them to Myanmar is the only solution. Bangladesh expects China to play a more sincere and active role in this process," he added.
At the event, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen stated that China has always stood by Bangladesh during crises. "Whether it was during COVID-19 or the July movement, officials of Chinese companies did not leave the country. The relationship between Dhaka and Beijing will continue as before," he assured.
Yao Wen also expressed hope that the interim government would soon overcome challenges, including the law and order situation.
Currently, Bangladesh hosts over 1.2 million Rohingyas, with around 800,000 arriving between September 2017 and the following months.
The government has repeatedly stated that it can no longer accommodate more Rohingyas, but the influx continues. According to government estimates, over 8,000 new Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in the past month and a half, although local sources claim the actual number is double that.
HSC Results Today: Steps to Get Results Quickly
The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams will be released today, Tuesday (October 15). Unlike previous years, the head of government, chief advisor, or education advisor will not be announcing the results. Instead, the chairpersons of the respective education boards will declare the results at 11 AM.
This year, the process for receiving results via SMS has been further streamlined. According to the new system, students can pre-register by sending an SMS before the results are officially published. The sooner a student sends the SMS, the sooner they will receive their results.
How to Pre-register for Results via SMS
To collect the results via SMS, follow these steps:
Type HSC [Board Name (first 3 letters)] [Roll] [Year] and send it to 16222.
Example: Send HSC Dha 123456 2024 to 16222.
As soon as the results are released, students who pre-registered will receive their results directly on their phones.
Background of This Year’s Exams
The HSC and equivalent exams began on June 30. Initially, the exams proceeded smoothly until July 16. However, due to the quota reform movement, the exams scheduled for July 18 were postponed, followed by further postponements on July 21, 23, and 25.
In the midst of these disruptions, a mass uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement resulted in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5.
Given the turbulent circumstances, the remaining exam dates were revised several times, with the final schedule set for August 11. Meanwhile, students started protesting to cancel the postponed exams. On August 20, they demonstrated at the Education Ministry, demanding cancellation. Eventually, the authorities decided to cancel the rescheduled exams.
This year, a total of 1,450,790 students participated in the HSC exams under nine general education boards, the Technical Board, and the Madrasa Board.
Army Chief Embarks on U.S. and Canada Tour
The Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-uz-Zaman, has left for an official visit to the United States and Canada.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the news in a press release on Tuesday (October 15).
During the visit, General Waqar-uz-Zaman will engage in discussions on various matters related to United Nations peacekeeping missions, enhancing the army's capabilities, strengthening bilateral relations, and planning future strategies. He will hold meetings with senior military and civilian officials at the UN headquarters, as well as in the U.S. and Canada.
He will also discuss matters related to mutual cooperation between the two countries. The army chief is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 25.
HSC Results Announced: Pass Rate 77.78%
The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams have been published, with an average pass rate of 77.78%. Last year, the pass rate was slightly higher at 78.64%.
On Tuesday, October 15, the Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, disclosed the results.
He mentioned that this year, the results were not released centrally. Instead, each education board announced the results. Students can check their results via SMS.
In previous years, under the Awami League government, the Prime Minister used to officially release the SSC and HSC results in a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office, receiving the report from the board chairpersons in the presence of the Education Minister and other officials.
This year, over 1.45 million students from 11 boards participated in the HSC and equivalent exams. The exams started on June 30, but the Sylhet Board's exams were delayed until July 9 due to flooding. Only six to seven exams were conducted before they were postponed due to anti-discrimination student protests.
The remaining written and practical exams were initially scheduled to resume on September 11. However, on August 20, the government decided to cancel the remaining exams in response to student demands.
The education board prepared the final results by mapping students' HSC scores to their SSC performance. In cases where subjects didn’t align, a subject mapping policy was applied.
How to Check Results:
Online: Visit the Dhaka Education Board website and click on the "Result" section. Results can be downloaded either by entering the institution’s EIIN or through individual roll and registration numbers.
SMS: Send an SMS in the following format to 16222:
HSC [Board Name (first 3 letters)] [Roll] [Year]
Example: HSC DHA 123456 2024
The result will be sent to the student's mobile phone shortly after.
