Md Nahid Islam, adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, said on Thursday that the Cyber Security Act has largely been used as a political instrument.

He made the remark during a discussion on amending the "Cyber Security Act, 2023" held at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.

Nahid expressed concern that the law's political misuse has eroded public trust. "People have developed a negative perception of the Act, and even with amendments, this skepticism is unlikely to disappear," he remarked.

He further stressed the need for a complete overhaul of the legislation, incorporating the constructive suggestions from the ongoing discussions and addressing other relevant elements that may require addition or removal.

At the outset of the meeting, a draft proposal to amend the "Cyber Security Act, 2023" was presented. Additional District Judge Shamsuddin Masum led the presentation of the draft.

The proposed amendments include several key changes: allowing only the aggrieved party to file a case, thereby preventing multiple cases on the same incident from being filed in different districts.

Additionally, the draft seeks to limit the arbitrary powers of law enforcement agencies. It also proposes reducing the maximum penalties for certain offenses, lowering sentences from 14 to 10 years for more serious crimes, and from three to two years for lesser offenses.

Following the presentation, a detailed discussion ensued regarding these proposed amendments.