Inside Bangladesh’s CyberspaceAnalysis

One act.
Many laws.

Select a subject to see how the same conduct can meet different rules and penalties.

SubjectsMain lawsOther laws

Numbers count the connections. Select any node.

This map covers the main laws on this site, not every law that may apply. The same conduct can be defined differently from law to law, and where no penalty is shown, one may still apply.
Eleven subjects and the main laws that reach them
SubjectLaws that reach it: what each does and, where shown, the penalty
Personal data held by others2 laws
  • Personal Data Protection Act§§11–14

    Gives you the right to see, correct, update or delete your data, withdraw consent and object to processing.

    • Fines up to BDT 2,500,000, or BDT 5,000,000 for significant data controllers
  • National Data Management Act§§30(6), 32

    Connects national ID, passport, tax, address, birth-registration and driving-license databases to one national data exchange.

Data crossing borders2 laws
Data breaches and hacking3 laws
  • Personal Data Protection Act§20

    Requires a breach to be reported to the data authority only when it is likely to cause significant damage.

  • National Data Management Act§§23, 30, 33

    Names security principles for national systems but leaves incident response, encryption standards and vulnerability disclosure to future regulations.

  • Cyber Protection Act§§17–19

    Criminalizes illegal access to critical infrastructure, devices and networks, and phishing, malware and ransomware.

Surveillance and interception2 laws
  • Personal Data Protection Act§24

    Waives consent on grounds including national security, public order and the investigation of crimes; its other rules still apply.

  • Bangladesh Telecommunication Act§§84, 97A

    Sets up a central interception platform and lets the regulator compel any document or information.

Speech-related offenses3 laws
  • Cyber Protection Act§26

    Criminalizes posting religious, communal or ethnic hate speech that causes violence or anxiety. Arrest needs a warrant.

    • Up to 2 years, a fine up to BDT 1,000,000, or both
  • Bangladesh Telecommunication Act§§66, 66A

    Penalizes “false or fraudulent” messages and a broad range of online conduct.

    • Up to 5 years, a fine up to BDT 490,000,000, or both “False or fraudulent” messages
    • Up to 5 years, a fine up to BDT 990,000,000, or both A broad range of online conduct
  • Penal Code§§124A, 153A, 295A, 499, 505A

    Keeps colonial-era offenses on sedition, enmity between groups, religious feelings and public order, plus criminal defamation.

    • Up to life imprisonment The most severe listed speech offenses
    • Up to 2 years and/or a fine Criminal defamation
Children online3 laws
  • Personal Data Protection Act§9

    Requires a parent’s or guardian’s consent for a child’s data, and regard for the child’s rights and interests.

  • Cyber Protection Act§25

    Covers child sexual abuse material, with higher penalties for crimes against women and children.

    • Up to 5 years, a fine up to BDT 2,000,000, or both When committed against a woman or a child
  • Pornography Control Act§8

    Punishes child pornography more heavily than adult material, yet producing pornography and coercing a child can draw the same penalty.

    • Up to 10 years + up to BDT 500,000 Child pornography
    • Up to 7 years + up to BDT 200,000 Producing pornography, or forcing a person, including a child, to take part
Intimate-image abuse and CSAM3 laws
  • Cyber Protection Act§25

    Covers content used for sexual harassment, revenge porn, child sexual abuse material, sextortion and blackmail. Arrest without a warrant.

    • Up to 2 years, a fine up to BDT 1,000,000, or both
    • Up to 5 years, a fine up to BDT 2,000,000, or both When committed against a woman or a child
  • Pornography Control Act§§4, 8, 10

    Prohibits producing, possessing, selling or displaying pornography, with graded penalties. Arrest without a warrant.

    • Up to 10 years + up to BDT 500,000 Child pornography
    • Up to 5 years + up to BDT 200,000 Blackmail or humiliation using pornography
  • Penal Code§509

    Makes insulting a woman’s “modesty” an offense.

Content takedown2 laws
  • Cyber Protection Act§8

    Lets authorities remove or block content; if a tribunal does not approve in time, the content must be restored.

  • Bangladesh Telecommunication Act§30(1)(j)

    Lets the telecom regulator take necessary action on intermediaries and social media, including issuing directives.

Platform and company liability2 laws
  • Cyber Protection Act§§27, 29

    Punishes aiding an offense like the offense itself; when a company offends, staff directly involved must prove they did not know or tried to prevent it.

  • Bangladesh Telecommunication Act§76

    Attributes a company’s offenses to its directors, managers, employees and representatives unless they show lack of knowledge or due diligence.

Digital evidence3 laws
  • Cyber Protection Act§43

    Admits forensic evidence gathered under the law, despite anything to the contrary in the Evidence Act, 1872.

  • Bangladesh Telecommunication Act§97B

    Makes intercepted communications admissible in court if lawfully approved and their chain of custody is proven.

  • Pornography Control Act§6

    Allows seized devices and data to be presented openly as evidence in court.

Patchwork of other laws affecting your rights

  1. Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
  2. Telegraph Act, 1885
  3. Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
  4. Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006
  5. Special Powers Act, 1974
  6. Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009
  7. Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012
  8. Official Secrets Act, 1923
  9. Narcotics Control Act, 2018
  10. National Identity Registration Act, 2023
  11. Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947
  12. Bank Company Act, 1991
  13. Representation of the People Order, 1972
  14. Statistics Act, 2013
  15. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976
  16. Chittagong Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978
  17. Khulna Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1985
  18. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Act, 1992
  19. Sylhet Metropolitan Police Act, 2009
  20. Barisal Metropolitan Police Act, 2009
  21. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Act, 2018
  22. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Act, 2018
  23. Police Act, 1861
  24. Police Regulations, Bengal, 1943
  25. Arms Act, 1878