‘Digital Security Act not against media’

Secretariat Correspondent: Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the recently passed Digital Security Act is not against media or journalists.

The Minister said this after a meeting with Sampadak Parishad at the ministry in the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon.

Inu conveyed thanks to the Sampadak Parishad as they responded to the calls for discussion over the act.

He further said, “The Sheikh Hasina led government is committed to uphold the constitution, to extend democracy and to ensure freedom of the press.”

“The act is currently under process of the president’s signature. In this circumstance, the government took the concern of Sampadak Parishad in cognisance over several sections of the act. And that’s why we sat for discussion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq said said he would discuss the objections of the Sampadak Parishad on the Digital Security Act at the next cabinet meeting or the following one and then will sit with the editors for agreed amendments to the law.

“Since the bill has not been sent to the president for ascent yet, therefore their objections will be presented in the cabinet meeting either on October 3 or the on the next date and then another meeting will be held with the Editors’ Council,” the minister said.

Sampadak Parishad has raised its serious concern about the recently passed law that would jeopardise independent journalism and especially investigative journalism. It has maintained that the law goes against the spirit of the constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression and freedom of the press.


risingbd/Dhaka/September 30, 2018/Asad/A K Azad