Members of civil society have expressed their concern over the recent arrests of journalists, social workers and civilians under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
A statement was issued in this regard on Thursday, signed by prominent civil society members. Among the signatories were M Hafiz Uddin Khan, Sultana Kamal, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Shahdeen Malik, Z I Khan Panna, Zafrullah Chowdhury, Prof Shahnaz Huda, Prof Shapan Adnan, Prof Asif Nazrul and many others.
The civil society members demanded that the cases against Rashtrochinta Organizer Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, Minhaz Uddin Emon, cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, writer Mushtaq Ahmed and some other civilians be withdrawn.
The statement strongly condemned the disrespectful behaviour shown towards photo journalist Shariful Islam Kajol, who had gone missing on March 10 and appeared blindfolded and bound near the Bangladesh-India border in Benapole, Jessore on May 2, on charge of illegally entering the country.
They urged the government to release the activists who have been arrested for expressing their opinions on social media.
The signatories stated that they were deeply concerned about the way the constitutional rights of citizens were being violated amid the coronavirus pandemic. They urged the government to refrain from enforcing all oppressive laws, including the Digital Security Act, in curbing freedom of speech.
