Section 57 being revoked from ICT Act: Inu

The government has decided to revoke the section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said today.

He came up with announcement after emerging from a meeting at the secretariat this afternoon, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

Section 57 and other controversial sections of the ICT act would be removed as the draft of the Digital Security Act has been finalised, the minister told the journalists.

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Not holding out much hope

Law Minister Anisul Huq, who was also present at the meeting, said the ‘check and balance’ of freedom of speech will be incorporated in the Digital Security Act and Broadcast act.

Legal experts earlier opined that the same provision section 57 is going to return in the draft Digital Security Act.

Section 57 goes against the people's right to freedom of expression and free speech. Vague wordings in the section can easily be used and misused against newsmen and social media users and would have a chilling effect on free discourse necessary in a democratic society, they said.