Staff Reporter :
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Monday said that all confusions over the freedom of press would be removed from the proposed Digital Security Act, 2018.
The minister came up with the assurance while talking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Secretariat on Monday.
BFUJ President Manjurual Ahsan Bulbul, Secretary General Omar Faruk, Treasurer Madhusudan Mondal and Executive Committee Member Syed Ishtiak Reza were present at the meeting. As the draft of the proposed law is now under consideration of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post, Telecom and ICT, discussions will be held and decision will be taken in this regard, Anisul Huq said. He said that a decision was taken on Sunday that the Parliamentary Standing Committee would hold discussions with the Editors’ Council, BFUJ and Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) on this issue at the last phase in May this year.
The BFUJ led by its President Manjurual Ahsan Bulbul submitted a written proposal to the minister at the meeting.
The BFUJ leaders, during the meeting, recommended amendment to the proposed Digital Security Act, incorporating a provision for forming a cell under the Bangladesh Press Council saying that this law cannot be applied for journalists or media without approval from this cell. “There must be a special measure for using any provision of this law for the journalists or media and it cannot be instantly used for them. There will be a cell for Bangladesh Press Council where the allegations will be recorded. This law can be applied against any journalist or media only after getting approval from this cell. This law cannot be applied for journalists or media without approval from this cell,” said the BFUJ proposal.
After the meeting, the minister said, “The demand made by the BFUJ regarding the proposed Digital Security Act is logical”.
Expressing concern over some sections of the proposed Act, including its much talked about Section 32, the BFUJ leaders demanded to bring amendments to the sections for removing the loopholes and vagueness. In the proposal, the journalists also made 10 observations about the proposed law alongside the “specific proposal” for formation of the cell under the Bangladesh Press Council.
The sections about which they made objection include Section 32 regarding spying, Section 31 regarding deterioration of the law and order situation, Section 29 regarding defamation, Section 28 regarding hurting religious sentiment, Section 25 regarding collecting attacking information and data, and Section 21 regarding the Liberation War and its spirit or campaign against the Father of the Nation.
Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul told reporters that they demanded the government to ensure institutionalised safety for the journalists and media after the parliament passes the bill on the Digital Security Act.
Earlier on April 18, when the Editors’ Council met the Law Minister the latter assured them (Editors) of removing loopholes and vagueness in the Digital Security Act through the editors’ meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post, Telecom and ICT.
Editors’ Council, an organisation of editors of the country’s national dailies, expressed grave concern over Section 21, 25, 28, 31, 32, and 43 of the proposed law. It said that the sections would greatly hamper the freedom of speech and independent journalism.
