‘DSA necessary, here to stay’

The government is examining a "technical note" from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to see what changes could be made to the Digital Security Act, said Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday.

Acknowledging that the law has been misused and abused "to some extent", he said they are continuing discussions with OHCHR on how to plug the holes.

He, however, added, "The reality is the DSA is necessary and will remain in force like in other countries. Such a law, though in different names, is in place all over the world to control cybercrimes."

A method has been put in place to protect journalists from unnecessary harassment, the minister said.

He made the comments while replying to queries from journalists after a seminar titled "Revisiting the Arbitration Act for Promoting FDI in Bangladesh". Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the seminar at its office in the capital.

Huq also said he held a discussion with civil society members on March 14, where they talked about amendments to the DSA, the Data Protection Act, and voluntary funds by the NGOs.

The minister was supposed to hold another such meeting on March 30, but it was cancelled. It could, however, be held in the middle of this month. 

He said he will see if room for abuse of the DSA could be removed through some rules or an amendment is needed.

Asked, he declined to comment on the case of Shamsuzzaman Shams, saying it was a sub judice matter. He, however, said the government did not file any case against any media house or journalist, but against "wrongdoings".

Earlier last month, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the Digital Security Act should be amended.

"I urge that it [the DSA] be amended, as criminal sentences continue to be handed down against those exercising their rights to free expression and belief," he said while outlining the human rights situations in 40 countries at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council.