The Digital Security Act in the USA is far tougher than our Law: Information and Broadcasting Minister

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, 'Such laws have been made in different countries of the world. The Cyber ​​Security Law and Regulation 2022 in the UK, Cyber ​​Law and Punishment in the US and similar laws in many countries around the world are in action. In the United States, this type of crime is punishable by 20 years in prison. And if someone dies because of spreading rumors through digital media, the punishment for that digital crime is life imprisonment. Our country's digital security act is not that tough. The USA's Digital Security Act is tougher than our law.'

The Information Minister opined so in response to a question during the unveiling of the book 'Bangabandhu in Newspaper Advertisements' in the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at noon on Thursday (March 30) and during an exchange of views with journalists.

Citing the Guardian's January report he said that, ‘Everyday Nine Percent is being arrested in the UK Because of Digital Offenses. On average nine percent are arrested per day due to digital offences. Being in our country? That is not happening because this law is to provide digital security to all people.

The Broadcasting Minister said, 'Before Bangabandhu was killed, Basanti was photographed with a net on her body and it was published. At that time, the price of net was higher than the price of cloth, still the price of net is very high. But Basanti was deliberately photographed with net on her body and published. Many people say that this incident of Prothom Alo on March 26 is like putting a net on Basanti. This kind of untruth against the state, society, freedom is a crime, a digital crime, according to the public.

In response to another question from the journalists, the minister said that there is a press council to deal with these incidents. When asked about this, the Information Minister said that the online version did not come under the Press Council. The Press Council has no power other than to reprimand. When he was arrested, a case was filed before that. He was arrested soon after the case was filed and was produced in court within 24 hours. Now Prothom Alo will give that explanation to the court. The court will judge it.

In response to another question, the Information Minister said that the online version did not come under the Press Council. Online news media is not under the jurisdiction of Press Council, or Facebook page of any news paper is not under the jurisdiction of Press Council and Press Council has no power except to reprimand.

In response to another question, Hasan Mahmud said that the news that was presented online on 26th, must have hit the very foundation of the state. Freedom has been mocked. On Independence Day at National Memorial, the National Memorial is a symbol of our freedom, there was a boy trying to get him to talk with 10 taka, what he didn't say was promoted, they removed it because it wasn't right. Here, the very foundation of the state has certainly been struck.

The information minister said there is a difference between being picked up and being arrested. If someone takes someone innocently, take it away. And if someone has committed a crime, a case has been filed, if someone is taken on specific charges that are arrest. He has been arrested.

In response to another question from journalists, Hashan Mahmud said, "If I hurt someone and then say sorry, does my crime cover up?"

Can't it be wrong? When such counter question was asked by the journalists, he said, it is wrong. It is wrong to attack the basic foundation of the state? If there is a mistake, they will explain it to the court. But the news that was served is still on Facebook. That is still on social media. Even though it was said to be remove, it isn’t re moved, anything.’

The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md. Farooq Ahmed, Director General of PIB Zafar Wazed, writer and researcher Popi Devi Thapa and others were present at this time.