Digital Security Act formulated to legitimise oppression: Anu Muhammad

The Digital Security Act has been formulated to stop general people from speaking against injustice and irregularities and to legitimise oppression, said economist Prof Anu Muhammad today.

"This government talks about the rule of law, but the government is constantly violating the laws which are inconvenient for them (government). The law states no one can be tortured in police custody but we can see many people are being picked up and tortured there. The government has enacted the Digital Security Act to legitimise its oppression," he said.

The Jahangirnagar University teacher was speaking at a rally -- arranged by Chhatra Union-- held at the foot of Raju Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus.

A four-point demand was placed at the rally. The demands include cancellation of the Digital Security Act, release of all political prisoners, withdrawal of false charges against student leaders, and trial for the murder of writer Mushtaq.

Everyone should be given the right to express their opinion, the teacher said.