Editors' concerns to be placed at next cabinet meeting or subsequent one

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the concerns of Sampadak Parishad (Editors' Council) about the Digital Security Act will be placed before the next cabinet meeting, or at the one after that. 

The law minister said this while talking to reporters after attending the inauguration of legal aid office management software, and smartphone app “Bd Legal Aid” as chief guest. The programme was organised by the law ministry at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in Dhaka.

The cabinet will sit in a special meeting today, with the next two weekly meetings likely on the next two Mondays, as is usually held, on October 8 and October 15.

Earlier on September 30, the minister, in a meeting with Sampadak Parishad -- a platform of editors of national dailies -- had committed to placing the serious concerns of editors, journalists and media practitioners before the cabinet meeting to work out amendments to the recently-passed Digital Security Act, to make it acceptable to all. 

“The next cabinet meeting, scheduled for October 3, may not discuss the issue as it already has many other agendas for discussions. But the concerns of the Editors' Council will be placed before the cabinet meeting after this one,” he had told reporters after the meeting.

On September 22, the Parishad expressed grave concerns over the House passing the Digital Security Bill 2018, which the platform considers to be against media freedom and freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution.

On a different subject, the law minister told reporters that the Anti-Corruption Commission will look into a corruption case filed by former BNP minister Barrister Nazmul Huda against former chief justice SK Sinha, as the case has been sent to the ACC.

He said SK Sinha is lamenting and telling lies staying abroad, due to anger and disappointment as he could not implement his “broken dreams” and “high ambitions”.

Responding to a query about repatriating SK Sinha, the minister said the process will take place through the court, when the case proceedings begin.

Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal and JATI Director General Justice Khondker Musa Khaled, among others, spoke at the event.