Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said freedom of speech of citizen’s will be ensured in newly proposed Digital Security Act.
“The checks and balances, which are needed to ensure people’s freedom of speech, can be kept in Broadcast Act apart from Digital Security Act. But the section 57 of the ICT Act will not be the same in the Digital Security Act,”he said.
The minister came up with the observations while talking to newsmen after coming out of an inter-ministerial meeting on formulating draft of the Digital Security Act at his ministry.
While talking about the current status of the draft of service rules and conduct of lower court judges, Anisul Huq said it has reached his office from Supreme Court and it will be forwarded to President’s office as soon as possible.
“We may send this today,” he added.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, who took part in the meeting as well, said Digital Security Act has become necessary to keep safe the “Digital Bangladesh”.
“We have formulated the draft keeping that goal in mind and I am hoping that the draft will be floated at the parliament in the coming winter session,” he said.
“Digital Security Act will come handy in ensuring and expanding security of the digital world. The act will be formulated maintaining connection with basic rights of the people provided by the constitution and important principles of the constitution,” Inu said, adding that proposals will be made to abolish sections 54, 55, 56, 57 and 66 of ICT Act.
“The proposal will be made when the draft of the Digital Security Act will be send to the cabinet,” the information minister said.
State minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for posts and telecommunications Tarana Halim, senior secretary of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Mohammad Shahidul Haque, information secretary Martuza Ahmed, law secretary Abu Saleh Sk Md Zahirul Haque, posts and telecommunications secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder and ICT Division secretary Subir Kishore Choudhury were present at the meeting, among others.
