Govt to look into objections, says law minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the government will take all necessary steps to stop misuse of the digital security law.
“We [govt] will look into sections of the digital security law on which some stakeholders have objections,” he said.
The minister said this while speaking to reporters after a meeting with an 11-member delegation of the European Union led by its Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink at his Gulshan residential office.
Anisul said, “I want to reiterate that the act was not formulated to curtail people’s constitutional rights, freedom of speech or freedom of press. The law has been formulated to resist cybercrimes.”
US Ambassador Earl R Miller and Canadian High Commissioner Benoit Préfontaine also attended the meeting.
The minister said the delegation had some concerns over the law and they met him to discuss it.
“Today, discussions took place on Section 43 of the Digital Security Act, 2018 [relating to search, seizure and arrest without warrant]. I have heard their statements and assured them of discussing the issue with the government,” he said.
“Besides, I have assured them of talking to them about the issue further, during framing rules of the law,” the minister added.
The Digital Security Act was passed in parliament last year, drawing criticism from journalists, rights groups and civil society members.
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