JS body to sit with journos over Digital Security Act

The parliamentary standing committee on telecom and ICT today said it will sit with newspaper editors, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and owners of the electronic media to know their concern about the Digital Security Act-2018.

Imran Ahmed, chief of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, this after a meeting of the parliamentary watchdog held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon, said the meeting will be held after May 20.

He said the standing committee will consider journalists' concern on different section of the proposed law placed at the parliament on April 9.

Telecom and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar placed the proposed law before the House, which was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry concerned for scrutinising it.

Different quarters, including Shampadak Parishad, an organisation of editors of national dailies, Newspapers Owners' Association of Bangladesh, senior journalists, rights activists and ambassadors of different countries in Dhaka expressed deep concern over the proposed law.

They also demanded that the Digital Security Bill be finalised after thorough discussions with all stakeholders, saying that the law should not be enacted hastily.