Asked about the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan's call for scrapping Bangladesh's Digital Security Act (DSA), Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said Khan, who is one of 80 rapporteurs of the UN, issued statement for stopping trial of war criminals in Bangladesh and remained silent during killings of common people in petrol-bomb attacks of BNP-Jamaat and didn't issue any statement when Israeli forces killed Palestinian children and it is valueless what is stated by her having one-eyed policy.
Hasan, also Awami League Joint General Secretary, said these while exchanging views with journalists at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday.
Noting that the DSA is formulated for ensuring digital security of all and many journalists also filed case under the act and got results, Hasan said it should be kept in mind that misuse of the act cannot take place.
It is essential to ensure that not only journalists but also anyone should not be harassed without any reason and "I cent percent agree with it", the minister said.
"If I notice that any journalist face such incidents, I proactively try to resolve the matter and now case cannot be lodged against any journalist in the way like earlier and permission needed for it," he said.
Hasan said Britain, which is home of Irene Khan, has at least eight acts on digital security.
Data Protection Act 2018, Communications Act 2003, Privacy and Electric Communications Regulation 2003, Network and Information System Regulation 2018, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, Commuter Misuse Act 1990, Official Secret Act 1989 and Malicious Communications Act 1988 are in Britain, he mentioned.
Not only that the sections which are being much-talked issues are also in the acts in India, Singapore, Pakistan and even in Australia.
