Law Minister Anisul Haque said the Digital Security Act (ICT) would be amended if necessary to prevent abuse. Anisul Haque made the remarks in response to a question from reporters after a scheduled session of the Law, Religious Affairs Ministry, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department and Law and Justice Department on Thursday (January 20th) at noon at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
The law minister said the Digital Security Act has been discussed twice with the UN Office for Human Rights, and a committee has been formed. That office has been informed and we are ready for discussion so that they fix date soon. We are willing to sit for talks on that date. A six-member committee comprising representatives of the law and justice department, ICT, home and foreign ministries has been formed in the committee headed by the secretary of the legislative department. In order to ensure that the law is not misused, we may adopt the rules to decide how best practices are needed for our country. The law will be amended if necessary.
He further said that we have decided after consulting with the Home Minister, not to deem a case under the Digital Security Act immediately and not to take it as a case rather send that to the cell as per ICT Act. Steps have been taken to ensure that media personnel, including journalists, are not immediately arrested. But after giving this instruction, the arrest of journalists has been reduced to a great extent under this law.
While asked about what the committee would do, the law minister said the law was mainly enacted to control cyber crime. Not to deprive freedom of speech or the freedom of the press. If it had been done, it would not have been considered as law. Because freedom of speech and freedom of media have been kept as fundamental rights in the constitution. We have made this law a little while ago, it has been made in many countries and many countries think it is necessary to make this law.