Bangladesh amends cybersecurity law, drops online gambling clause

Section-20 is omitted since a separate law was adopted to prevent online gambling

Parliament has passed the Cyber Security (amendment) Bill, 2026, dropping Section-20 which mandated tougher action for online gambling and other crimes in cyberspace.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam tabled the bill seeking its passage in the House on Tuesday.

The proposal was first rejected by voice votes. It was finally endorsed by parliament members after the clauses and title of the bill had been accepted.

The clause was omitted since a separate law was adopted to prevent online gambling.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, "With the passage of the Gambling Prevention Bill-2026, there is no longer any need to include a section related to gambling in the cyber security law.”

“Only this section [20] will be removed from the Cyber Security Bill 2026. That is all that is required by law."

Earlier, demands arose to ensure women's safety in cyberspace. At the same time, opposition MPs warned the government against using the law to suppress dissent or harass citizens.