There is no way but to repeal the Digital Security Act to ensure the protection of the freedom of the media, freedom of thought and expression, and above all the protection of the fundamental rights of people. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the World Free Media Day, the discussants made this comment at the discussion program titled ‘Shaping a Future of Rights’ organized jointly by UNESCO, Article Nineteen and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). However, while speaking as the Chief Guest of the program, the Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque said, “Unequivocally, the government will not cancel the Digital Security Act under any circumstances, but if necessary, some amendments will be made by September this year.”
In response to the law minister’s speech, the Executive Director of TIB Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘We also want to say unequivocally like the honorable minister that, there will be no solution except canceling the Digital Security Act. Because the arbitrary use and abuse of this law is being used as a tool to take away the freedom of the press as well as the fundamental rights of people. Even if amended or even amended, this law will not reflect the public interest and will not be acceptable to the people, rather it should be repealed and a new cyber security law should be enacted.’
In addition, he expressed extreme disappointment at the gradual backwardness of Bangladesh in the global media freedom index, he said, “Bangladesh’s position in this index is not only the lowest in South Asia, but also among countries that are either war-torn, civil war-ridden or under extreme autocratic rule, none of which is the case of Bangladesh.” Blaming the Digital Security Act for this embarrassing situation, he said there is no option but to repeal this Act.
Honorable Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Advocate Anisul Haque, MP, was present as the chief guest in the discussion program organized by ‘UNESCO, TIB and Article-19’ at the TIB office in Dhanmondi of the capital. The program was inaugurated by the officer-in-charge of UNESCO Dhaka office, Susan Vij. Gwen Lewis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, delivered her welcome speech.
Gwen Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, said, ‘By accelerating media freedom, we are accelerating our own development. Journalism is a profession where only public interest is given priority. It is our responsibility to ensure its protection. On World Free Media Day, I congratulate all the media workers of Bangladesh who have conveyed the correct information by uncovering the truth.’
In the panel discussion, Dhaka University’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Dr. Geeti Ara Nasrin said, ‘If there are many media in the country, media freedom is not guaranteed. The media has the power to break down gender stereotypes, the power to raise the voices of marginalized groups, to highlight their problems. Therefore, experts also say that the media must work independently to ensure a democratic environment. Various studies have shown that countries with more diversity have less media freedom.
English newspaper The Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Riaz Ahmed said, ‘When the Digital Security Act was enacted, a war on drugs was declared in Bangladesh and that war ended with the death of Major Sinha. There were more reports of such extrajudicial killings then, but they did not come to the fore because of this law. We want to say, there is nothing to control the media, but everyone must work to ensure the proper working environment of the media.’
In the panel discussion, Supreme Court lawyer barrister Jyotirmoy Barua highlighted the issue of Prothom Alo journalist being picked up in the middle of the night, journalist Kajol being kidnapped and missing for 53 days and Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra’s arrest in the DSA case. In such a situation, we want to leave the question of how to ensure our rights.’
In view of the widespread misuse of the Digital Security Act in the panel discussion and the demand for repeal of the Act, Chief Guest Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque said, ‘I want to say unequivocally that the Digital Security Act will not be repealed under any circumstances, but some amendments can be made if necessary.’ He also said, ‘due to the need of time, after the Digital Security Act was enacted in 2018, there was some misuse and abuse. I and my government do not deny that. But it is also true that this misuse and abuse has reduced a lot now. At one time we felt we could not use this law properly. So we formed a committee. UNHCR has provided us with a technical paper on the Digital Security Act and we are reviewing it. They asked to cancel some sections of this law, but we disagree on that. However, efforts will be made to amend the Digital Security Act if necessary by September.
The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed and Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg Von Linde along with the officials of the embassies of various countries in Bangladesh belonging to the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) and representatives of various domestic and foreign media and other guests were present at the event.
