Make some provisions non-cognisable

Journalists yesterday raised concerns over some provisions of the proposed digital security bill, saying those are contradictory to freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution.

Once passed in the parliament, the provisions can be used as tools to harass journalists and gag independent journalism, they told a discussion marking World Press Freedom Day.

The Bangladesh chapter of Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) arranged the discussion, supported by Management and Resource Development Initiative (MRDI) and Fojo Media Institute of Linnaeus University, Sweden, at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

World Press Freedom Day will be observed globally today.

The much-debated Digital Security Bill, 2018 was placed in the parliament on April 9 amid growing concerns from journalists and rights activists saying that freedom of the press and expression would be put to the sword.

The bill is at present at the parliamentary standing committee on posts, telecommunications and ICT for scrutiny.

Committee chief Imran Ahmed recently told reporters that it will sit with journalists any day after May 20 to hear their concerns.

Presenting a paper at yesterday's discussion, Prothom Alo Associate Editor Abdul Quayum said a key challenge for free media in the country is threats from various quarters including fanatics.

“As a result, many journalists preferred self-censorship,” he said.

Citing Prothom Alo data, he said a journalist was shot dead and eight more were injured in the last 14 months in Bangladesh.

One journalist was kidnapped and released later, three were sent to jail, five were detained, and cases were filed against six journalists, excluding editors, from January last year to March 14 this year.

As many as 479 daily newspapers including 203 in Dhaka are operational in the country at present, he said, referring to data of the Department of Films and Publications.

Moreover, some 10,000 online media and about 100 TV and radio channels are also operational, he added.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar said the government is yet to enact the bill. Media representatives still have an opportunity to give their inputs over the issue.

“There is a scope for scrutiny,” he said.

Emphasising the act's necessity, he said more digital mediums and platforms are now emerging in the country while possibility of digital and cyber crimes is also increasing.

Alongside the government, people have to come forward to check cyber crimes, he said.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam said the proposed law tries to regulate freedom of expression as a whole.

Journalists need to be vocal over the issue because they are the ones to uphold freedom of expression, he added. A solution to reduce its adversity can be making the provisions in question including 25 and 28 of the proposed bill “non-cognisable”, he said while presenting a paper. If a provision is non-cognisable, police would not be able to arrest any person without a court order.

Also, it has to be made sure that no one would be able to file a case without government permission, he said.

“A safety net is required for all, including journalists,” he added.

Tanjib further said the government declared to abolish section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act but its essence has been merged in some provisions of the proposed digital security bill.

The government on several occasions said section 57 of the ICT Act would be removed. The section deals with defamation, hurting religious sentiments, causing deterioration of law and order and instigation against any person or organisation through publishing or transmitting any material on websites or in electronic form.

It stipulates maximum 14 years in prison for the offences.

The digital security bill, 2018 splits these offences into four separate sections (21, 25, 28 and 29) with punishment ranging from three to 10 years in prison.

Bhorer Kagoj Editor Syamal Dutta moderated the discussion while CJA Bangladesh chapter Vice President Abdur Rahman Khan presided over it.

MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman also spoke.