Revoke section 32

“Bangladesh Mafassal Sangbadik Forum” (BMSF) yesterday demanded that the government revoke section 32 of the proposed Digital Security Act-2018, saying it has been included to harass journalists.

Members of the forum, a platform of rural journalists, also threatened to wage a tougher movement if the government do not fulfill their demand immediately.

The forum members yesterday submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner of Dhaka, says a press release.

Section 32 says a person may face up to 14 years in jail or Tk 20 lakh fine or both on the charge of spying if he or she illegally enters the offices of government, semi-government and autonomous bodies to gather information and uses electronic device to record something secretly.

Ahmed Abu Zafar, general secretary of BMSF central committee, said with approval of the proposed act by the cabinet division on January 29, freedom of the press and expression was put to the sword.