Dhaka, Oct 15 (Just News): Defending the recently-enacted Digital Security Act, which critics say will muzzle freedom of speech and media, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the law is not meant to harm anyone.
“The digital security law is passed, what can be done now?” she was quoted saying by several ministers during Monday’s weekly Cabinet meeting.
In an unprecedented move the same day, top newspaper editors formed a human chain demanding “proper amendments” to nine sections of the newly introduced law which they believe will curb media freedom.
Sixteen editors who grouped under the Editors’ Council stood with a banner for 10 minutes in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka while some of their colleagues also gathered in support.
They demanded the scrapping of those sections of the law which will stand in the way of freedom of expression.
The council demands for amending sections 8, 21, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 43 and 53 of the Digital Security Act.
When the Cabinet was discussing the draft of the Broadcast Act 2018, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu raised the issue of demonstration by the Editors’ Council, several ministers, who asked not to be named, told an online agency.
Law Minister Anisul Huq and his Cabinet colleague Inu told the prime minister that they had meetings with newspapers editors and journalist union leaders.
According to the ministers, Hasina replied, “The law in England is way stricter than the new law in Bangladesh. It’s not meant to harm anyone.”
Journalists who are not opting for false news or wrong information should not worry about the new law, but the government will take a tough stance against social ill, said the prime minister.
The Digital Security Bill 2018 was passed in parliament on Sept 19 and President Abdul Hamid signed it into a law on Oct 8 despite protests and concerns from the media.
The Editors’ Council before the presidential signing called a human chain which was postponed on Minister Inu’s assurance of hearing their concerns.
At a meeting with the ministers Inu, Huq and Mustafa Jabbar, they were assured that their concerns would be relayed to the cabinet, which did not happen, prompting newspaper editors to demonstrate.
The information minister as well as law minister, however, maintains the door for discussion is still open.
