Left-leaning political leaders yesterday demanded that the government abolish the Digital Security Act 2018.

Speaking at a protest rally, they said the act may be used to gag media and resist peoples' freedom of expression. Therefore, this act and other such “black laws” those are anti-people should be abolished.

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of eight left-leaning parties, organised the rally in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

At the programme, speakers also demanded formation of a neutral polls-time government through dissolving the current parliament, to make the upcoming national election free and fair. They also threatened to go for tougher movement if the demands are not met.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Shah Alam said a number of “black laws” -- like Digital Security Act -- have been formed before the election to silence peoples' voice and oppress opposition parties.

“The country has turned into a police state. Everything is controlled by police, who will implement such laws. There is no sign of democracy here,” he said at the rally.

“Fair polls were never held in the country under a ruling party, and it will never happen in future; because people cannot vote when a party is in power,” Shah Alam added.

LDA Coordinator Saiful Huq, also general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, alleged that the government has intentionally filed cases against leaders of many parties, who may compete in the election.

He also alleged that the government passed many development projects, worth taka several thousand crores, ahead of the election to do the “ultimate looting”, as the projects will not be operational within the next three months.

The LDA leaders and activists brought out a procession after the rally towards the secretariat to press home their demands.

However, police resisted them when they moved towards the road adjacent to the secretariat, where a scuffle broke out. No one was injured in the incident.

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) demands dissolution of the parliament before the declaration of schedule of the upcoming national election. Photo: Amran Hossain