TIB disappointed with finalised report by parliamentary body

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed disappointment over finalising of a report by a parliamentary body on Digital Security Bill, 2018 without considering most of the recommendations from stakeholders and amending some sections that curb freedom of speech and independent journalism.

In a statement issued yesterday, it urged the government not to pass such a bill that goes against the principles of the constitution.

On Tuesday, the parliamentary standing committee on post, telecom and ICT ministry finalised its report on the much-debated bill.

“The incident of finalising the report on the bill without changing the controversial sections and ignoring stakeholder's opinions is a matter of concern,” said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based graft watchdog.

The concerns voiced by journalists on sections 8, 28, 29 and 31 were ignored and it will create risks for them to discharge their professional duties, he said.

The sections deal with hurting religious values, disrupting public order, circulating defamatory information, and disrupting law and order through publishing anything on website or electronic form.

The executive director also said the recommendation made by the committee on the controversial section 32 is also regrettable.

The committee recommended renaming the offence of “computer or digital spying” as “violating state secrecy” under section 32 and incorporating Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Iftekharuzzaman said the legal right to get information on corruption and human rights violation as per the Right to Information Act 2009 will be curbed due to the misuse of section 32.

“Therefore, corruption and crimes relating to human rights violation will spread further,” he said, adding that the section would act as a major impediment in conducting investigative journalism and research.

If the bill is passed, he said, it will go against the spirit of the constitution and restrict free-thinking and freedom of speech. It will also impede independent journalism, he added.

“A sense of insecurity will be created among the citizens in the name of digital security,” he said.

TIB hoped that the government and the Jatiya Sangsad will refrain from “taking the suicidal path” and create further scope to have discussion with the stakeholders on it.

The possibilities of ensuring good governance and curbing corruption, enhanced by the growth of information technology, will face a setback due to the proposed law, the TIB statement said, adding it will also limit the role of citizens, civil society and media in achieving the sustainable goals.

The bill was placed at the parliament on April 9 amidst growing concerns among journalists and rights activists that freedom of the press and expression would be seriously jeopardised if the bill was passed as it was.