Editors' Council demands clarification over Critical Information Infrastructure

Editors’ Council has demanded clarification of the notification issued declaring 29 institutions as Critical Information Infrastructure. 

The association of newspaper editors issued a statement signed by its president Mahfuz Anam, and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, on Wednesday. 

According to the notification, the government has recently declared 29 government institutions including the office of the President and the Prime Minister as critical information infrastructure or CII (Critical Information Infrastructure) to protect sensitive and important information from cyber attacks.

Taking cyber security into account, the information and communication technology (ICT) division of the government has recently issued a notification declaring these institutions as CIIs under the provisions of Section 15 of the Digital Security Act-2018.

Financial sector regulatory bodies such as Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) are also listed in institutions declared as critical information infrastructure. 

The list also includes Bridges Division, Department of Immigration and Passport, National Data Center and Bangladesh Computer Council, National Identity Registration Wing and Election Commission Secretariat, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, Bangabandhu Satellite Company Limited and so on.

The editors feel that the notification will put fresh pressure and obstacles on independent journalism.

The editors’ council fears enlisting 29 government institutions as critical information infrastructures has violated the right of journalists to get information as all the 29 institutions are related to public interests. 

Due to this notification, reporters will not be able to get the relevant information if the concerned institutions fail to ensure public services and services, which is a threat to independent journalism, it added. 

At the same time, this notification will encourage internal corruption, irregularities and lack of accountability in the concerned institutions, said the statement. 

While right to information is presently recognised as a fundamental right under the Right to Information Act, the notification issued declaring 29 institutions as critical information infrastructure requires detailed clarification.

The statement said that the Digital Security Act-2018 is already creating obstacles to freedom of speech and free intellectual practice including in social media. "Journalists, jurists, human rights activists, representatives of civil society and several government ministers and members of parliament have continued to express various suggestions, recommendations and concerns about the changes, modifications, additions and subtraction to the law."

Earlier a meeting of the Editors’ Council was held on Tuesday. 

Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Inqilab editor AMM Bahauddin, Jugantar editor Saiful Alam, Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Banik Barta editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Karatoa editor Mozammel Haque, acting editor of Samakal Mozammel Hossain, acting editor of Desh Rupantar Mostafa Mamun and executive editor of Sangbad Shahriar Karim were present at the meeting chaired by Mahfuz Anam. Daily Azadi editor MA Malek joined the meeting virtually.