Dhaka, May 4 – Law minister Anisul Huq Thursday informed that the parliamentary standing committee on post telecom and ICT would hold talks with the media representatives on May 22 for discussing on the issues of the proposed Digital Security Act.He also said that the meeting would be held with the representatives of the Editors’ Council, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO).
The law minister disclosed it to the media while talking with the reporters after attending a meeting as chief guest at a city hotel.
In response to a query, the minister said that the amendment would be brought to the some of the sections of the proposed Digital Security Act if it is necessary for removing any vagueness.
Earlier on April 19, in a meeting with the law minister the editors council expressed grave concern over some provisions of the proposed Digital Security Act and demanded amendment of the undemocratic provisions of the Digital Security Bill-2018 that go against freedom of the press.
The Editors’ Council said that sections 21, 25, 28, 31, 32 and 43 of the digital security bill are against freedom of expression and will hamper freedom of the press.
After the meeting, Anisul Huq acknowledged that the issues raised by the editors are logical, saying the law would be enacted after wide discussions among those concerned.
The Digital Security Bill was recently placed in Parliament. It would turn into law once it is passed after scrutiny by the parliamentary committee concerned.
On January 29, the government had approved the much-talked-about draft of the “Digital Security Act-2018”, incorporating some provisions that would go against freedom of expression.
Soon after approval of the law, the Editors’ Council and rights bodies demanded removal of some controversial provisions, saying that investigative journalism would stop if the law was passed without removing some of the provisions.
On April 9, the government placed the Digital Security Bill-2018 before the House, with a view to ensuring digital security, combating digital crime and punishing offenders.
Telecom and ICT minister Mustafa Jabbar placed the bill before Parliament, with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The House sent the bill to the parliamentary standing committee concerned for further scrutiny, asking it to report back within four weeks. – Staff Reporter
