Year
2025
Reform Domain
Women
Sub Domain
Law and legal framework
Source of Reform Proposals
Women's Reform Commission Report
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
This reform proposal has been articulated in the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission Report. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s manifesto for the 13th National Parliamentary Election also included directly pledges: “Strict legal measures to end gender-based and online violence, hatred, and bullying, “Enforcing exemplary punishments for rape and female abuse,” and “Women’s social and economic empowerment.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
The proposal to recognise digital child sexual abuse material and digital non-consensual pornography as offences was included in the draft replacement cyber-security ordinance. On 7 November 2024, the Interim Government’s Council of Advisers gave in-principle approval to prepare the new legal framework. A draft titled the Cyber Protection Ordinance, 2024 was approved on 24 December 2024, but it was subsequently criticised by digital-rights advocates and victims of earlier digital-security laws. Following calls on 20 January 2025 for its withdrawal or substantial revision, the draft underwent further changes. On 6 May 2025, the Council of Advisers approved the revised Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025, which included provisions on digital child sexual abuse material, revenge pornography, sextortion and related forms of online sexual harm.
Legal and Policy Framework
Last Update: 29-Jul-26
On 21 May 2025, the President promulgated the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025, incorporating offences relating to digital child sexual abuse material, revenge pornography and sextortion. Parliament passed the retaining legislation on 9 April 2026, and the Cyber Security Act, 2026 received presidential assent and was gazetted on 10 April 2026. On 6 July 2026, a Cabinet committee led by the Minister responsible for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology was formed to review and finalise the draft Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Observation
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The Cyber Security Act, 2026 establishes legal definitions and penalties for several forms of digitally facilitated sexual abuse and non-consensual sexual content. It defines digital child sexual abuse material, revenge porn, sextortion, and forms of sexual harassment committed through cyberspace. Section 25 criminalises the creation, receipt, storage, transmission, publication, dissemination, or threatened disclosure of such material and provides imprisonment and financial penalties, with enhanced punishment where the victim is a woman or a child under 18. The Cabinet committee formed on 6 July 2026 to review and finalise a further amendment may provide an opportunity to strengthen the definitions, consent standards, victim-centred remedies and enforcement procedures relating to these offences
The Cyber Security Act, 2026 provides a legal basis for addressing digital child sexual abuse material, digital non-consensual sexual content, and related online harms. As specified in the Act:
Section 2(1)(P) defines digital child sexual abuse material to include visual, audio, textual, or other representations involving actual or simulated sexual activity, sexual exploitation, abuse, sexual services, grooming, or sexual communication involving a child.
Section 2(1)(R) defines revenge porn as disseminating a person’s intimate or private images, videos, or similar data without consent and with the intention of causing harm.
Section 2(1)(O) defines sextortion as threatening to disclose intimate or private material in order to obtain money, benefits, or a physical relationship.
Section 25 criminalises the transmission, publication, dissemination, or threatened disclosure of material connected to sexual harassment, revenge porn, digital child sexual abuse material, or sextortion. The maximum punishment is two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both, increasing to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 20 lakh, or both, where the offence is committed against a woman or a child under 18.
Section 30 authorises the Tribunal to award compensation to the affected person or institution.
Sections 31, 36, 39 and 43 provide procedures concerning investigation, preservation of digital evidence, confidentiality, and the evidentiary value of forensic material.
Section 29 establishes liability for companies and responsible officers connected with an offence.