The government plans to set up a separate ‘Cyber Security Department’ to deal with the fast growing cyber crimes that have emerged as a threat to the national security and financial services, reports BSS. The cyber security department will have a Computer Response Incident Team (CRIT) which will work as a trouble shooter to address the computer related cyber crime incidents. “With the advancement of digitization of financial system, introduction of various e-Services and e-Commerce the cyber crimes have emerged as a threat for ensuring uninterrupted online services,” Information and Communication (ICT) secretary Md.  Nazrul Islam Khan told the news agency. He said setting up of a separate cyber security department has become inevitable because of frequent cyber attacks on the websites and online system. The ICT Division is making a proposal relating to establishment of a ‘Cyber Crimes Department’ for submitting it to the relevant authorities, Khan added. “The government cannot sit idle at a time when cyber attacks may cause huge losses of a large section of people who are now fully dependant on internet as well as online services,” he added. The ICT secretary said the existing ICT Act, 2013 will also be amended taking opinions from lawyers, judges, police, journalists and victims to make the law suiting to the needs of the time. “We’ve already launched a cyber security programme aimed at creating awareness among the computer and internet users about cyber crimes and its protection,” Khan said, adding that opinions have also been sought from the cross section of people about the Cyber Security Act’ 2013 for plugging the loopholes if any.

Cyber Security Project director Billal Hossain said the programme titled ‘National Level Cyber Security and Enhancing Awareness on ICT Act,’ formally inaugurated on May.

10 will organise seminars, meetings and road shows in 64 districts and 128 colleges and 73 universities to create awareness among the computer and internet users about cyber crimes and ICT Act.

“Taking global scenario about the fast growing cyber crimes into consideration there is no other alternative but to create awareness among internet users about it,” he said.

The internet users who have accounts with the Yahoo and Gmail are sharing important documents and information with each other through e-mail, but they do not know that their documents and information are being leaked and there is no security to it, Billal said.