The Law Minister Anisul Haque said that the Digital Security Act will not canceled rather be reformed by next September through removing the legal problems. Speaking as the chief guest at the meeting titled ‘Shaping a Future of Rights’ on the occasion of World Free Media Day-2023 on Wednesday (May 3), he said ‘I want to say unequivocally that the Digital Security Act will not be repealed. The law must have provisions for the protection of journalists who do true journalism. I expect that this law will be reformed by next September.’
In this panel discussion organized by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the minister also said that as a result of the construction of Digital Bangladesh after the formation of the government, there has been a revolution in online media and social media in Bangladesh today. Hundreds of thousands of online media, newspapers are currently working in the country by utilizing the opportunities of Digital Bangladesh of People’s Leader Sheikh Hasina. Apart from this, there are various social media including Facebook, YouTube. Millions of people of the country are freely expressing their news and opinions in these media. As a result, the media is now much more independent. Electronic Media is working as a news source. So the government is working to prevent misuse of digital security laws.
The law minister also said, ‘It will be made a universal law by eliminating the problems of digital security act. Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina will never take away the freedom of the press. The Digital Security Act was not enacted to take away media freedom. As I have said before, and still say today, this law has been enacted, only to prevent cybercrime. I can tell you with certainty that the government of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina will never take away the freedom of the press. Because Bangabandhu has recognized the freedom of the press as a fundamental right in his constitution.
Anisul Haque cited examples of legislation to combat cybercrime in various countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam India, the United States and the European Union and said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government also enacted a law called the Digital Security Act in 2018. Before drafting the law, various stakeholders including Editors’ Council, ATCO, and journalists’ organizations were discussed in stages. The door of this discussion even extended to the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. In the early days of the implementation of the Act, there were some misuses and abuses – I will not deny that. However, as a result of our effective measures, the misuse and abuse has been reduced to a great extent. We have taken initiatives to refine the Digital Security Act to further reduce these misuses and abuses.
The TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman moderated the event while Ambassador of Sweden Alex Berg von Linde, UNESCO Dhaka office in-charge Suzan Vaiz, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Chairman of Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Dhaka University’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Dr. Geeti Ara Nasreen, Executive Editor of Dhaka Tribune Riaz Ahmed and others were present.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Free Media Day, in a press release of TIB on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Iftekharuzzaman commented that despite the increase in the number of media outlets in the country, independent journalism has decreased. He said that the responsibility of the government is to ensure the environment in which the media can play its role without hindrance as the fourth pillar of the state.