This white paper provides a focused and actionable analysis of critical aspects of the regulatory framework for the digital ecosystem in Bangladesh, with particular emphasis on online safety and content regulation, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, surveillance, competition, and consumer protection in the digital domain. Our focus extends to substantive issues such as definitions, extraterritorial application of laws, and the scope of regulatory authority, alongside systemic reforms including sentencing guidelines, the development of a centralized case-tracking system, and differentiated legal treatment to appropriately address varying degrees of offenses. We further provide analyses from comparable legislations and policies in different countries.
While the white paper prioritizes substantive and structural issues due to their urgent attention, certain areas relevant to the digital ecosystem fall outside its immediate scope, including intellectual property rights, mobile and digital financial services, foreign exchange regulations, digital signature certification, and critical information infrastructure protections. Future efforts may revisit these excluded areas, however, this white paper is intentionally focused on addressing some of the most pressing issues that demand urgent intervention during the present period of democratic transition. The overarching goal is to provide a blueprint for the formulation of a robust, balanced, and rights-respecting regulatory framework that protects digital rights, foster innovation, and ensure a competitive and consumer-friendly digital environment.
The white paper is structured into two parts, each addressing distinct aspects of legal and regulatory reforms, including analyses of specific provisions needed to strengthen Bangladesh’s information and technology governance framework.
Part A focuses on essential revisions across eight key legislations that underpin the existing regulatory environment: the Personal Data Protection Act, 2026, the National Data Management Act, 2026, the Cyber Protection Act, 2026, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001, the Penal Code, 1860, the Pornography Control Act, 2012, the Competition Act, 2012, and the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. These revisions aim to modernize outdated provisions, address definitional ambiguities, and enhance their effectiveness in the digital age.
Part B outlines essential enactments required to address gaps in the legal landscape, proposing four new legal frameworks: the Online Safety Act, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, the Digital Commerce Act, and a forward-looking Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Collectively, these provide a comprehensive roadmap for reform, ensuring a robust, equitable, rights-respecting legal regime.
We provide a comprehensive, albeit non-exhaustive, list of laws applicable to technologies and are salient to fundamental rights online. However, we prioritize key statutes that we assess as critical and urgent in the reform process to ensure Bangladesh takes a first step towards inclusive, rights-respecting digital governance.
