Speaker signs; it may be sent to president today

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday signed the recently passed Digital Security Bill.

Sources at the parliament secretariat said the bill would be sent to the president's office today for his consent.

The development comes after Law minister Anisul Huq, during a meeting with the Sampadak Parishad (Editor's Council) at the information ministry two days ago, committed to place the objections of the council before the cabinet.

The council has been demanding amendments to sections 8, 21, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 43 and 53 of the law.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday called for steps to recast the Digital Security Act after scrapping all its controversial sections.

In a statement, TIB said the people of the country as well as the media are facing insecurity as “law enforcers have been given a wide scope for misusing the repressive sections of the act”.

“The act comprises so many repressive, anti-constitutional and anti-Liberation War spirit sections that any partial amendment will not end the emerging insecurity,” TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, adding, at this stage, there is no alternative to recast the act after scrapping all its sections that are against freedom of expression and freedom of speech.

The corruption watchdog said the commitment to place concerns of editors, journalists and media persons before the cabinet meeting to work out amendments to the recently passed bill brings some relief.

“We want to believe that the commitment to place the serious concerns of editors before the cabinet meeting is a positive step. However, the hint about resolving the debate through discussions has made us more worried after the passage of the bill in parliament with an unusual haste ignoring the serious concerns and suggestions of the stakeholders,” Iftekharuzzaman said in the statement.

Against this backdrop, any hasty attempt to settle the matter will be frustrating and suicidal, he said adding such steps would make the government's attempt questionable.

TIB also said a timely act was needed to ensure digital security and that they are not against the act. However, the attempt to gag freedom of speech is suicidal and undemocratic.

The much-debated Digital Security Bill 2018 was passed by Jatiya Sangsad on September 19 with harsh provisions allowing police to frisk or arrest anyone without warrants.

Journalists and rights activists have expressed concerns about the new law, saying it was passed without addressing their concerns.