"Relieve us of this nightmare": Plead those accused in DSA cases

Ruma Sarkar, an assistant professor of Bangla at Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, is still reeling from the trauma of her arrest in a Digital Security Act case about nine months ago.

"As a single mother, my biggest challenge is raising my two children. After breaking the door of my house, they arrested me in front of my children," she said at a conference at the capital's National Museum yesterday.

The teacher said her life has not become normal. "I am yet to rejoin work. My children still cannot resume school. I want relief from this pain. Please, withdraw the case against me."

The conference organised by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee was titled "Victims of Digital Security Act and Real Culprits".

Ruma was picked up by Rapid Action Battalion on October 19 last year. She got out on bail after 70 days behind bars.

Like Ruma, five others arrested under the DSA and later released from jail, shared their harrowing experiences.

After hearing about Ruma's ordeal, Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar apologised to her.

Speaking at the event as chief guest, the minister said he worked many years for formulating the law. "The law was drafted under my supervision. I apologise to those who suffered due to the misuse of the law."

He said the DSA has been misused like the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

"It seems to me that the main reason for such misuse is political. There should have been a safeguard against the misuse of this law. No law is formulated forever. We can amend the country's constitution. So, we will be able to amend this law."

Criticising the law enforcement agencies, Jabbar said "the agencies and the law ministry" sent the people of the minority communities to jail in the name of providing security.

"Will you turn the entire country into a prison to provide security to the minority community members living everywhere in Bangladesh?" the minister asked.

Hridoy Chandra Mandal, a teacher from Munshiganj sued under DSA, said, "I have been in teaching profession for 21 years. Now, I feel afraid of teaching science at school. Unscientific topics are dominating textbooks. A country cannot march forward in such a way."

Sankar Debnath, another teacher from Cumilla, said he along with his wife had been running a school at his home for 22 years.

"The house was set alight over a comment made by me and I was sued under the Digital Security Act. The case has ruined my reputation," said a distraught Sankar.

Jhuman Das of Sunamganj said, "I was put behind bars for writing against Mamunul Haque [Hefazat-e Islam leader] and praising Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I received death threats in jail. I've become broke for fighting the legal battle. I want respite."

Two other accused in DSA cases; Rasaraj Das, a fisherman from Brahmanbaria, and Joydev Sheel, a student from Patuakhali; also spoke at the discussion.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik said Rasaraj studied up to class-IV and he does not know how to operate Facebook.

"How will he post a Facebook status? Like him, every other victim of the Digital Security Act was subjected to conspiracies in one way or the other. Now, policemen have become bigoted," he told the event.

He said the law has been misused more against the people from the Hindu community. "On the other hand, Islamic clerics like Enayet Ullah Abbasi and Charmonai Pir are making anti-state and anti-religion remarks in violation of section 295 of the Penal Code and section 28 of the DSA. But no case was filed against them."

Aroma Dutta, an Awami League lawmaker, said those who were trying to strengthen their positions were being arrested under the DSA, which is not good for the country. "This is not acceptable at all. There should not be any misuse of the law. The law should be reviewed so that innocent people don't suffer."

Presiding over the programme, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Shahriar Kabir said handcuffing teachers and sending them to jail were disgraceful.

"Our demand is that the cases against them be withdrawn."