HC starts hearing on rule

The High Court yesterday started hearing on a rule it issued three years back questioning the constitutionality of sections 25 and 31 of the much talked about Digital Security Act, 2018.

The relevant sections criminalise the publishing of false and intimidating information -- contributing to the deterioration of law and order -- and detail the penalties for offenders.

The HC bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain began the hearing with writ petitioners' lawyer Imran A Siddique placing argument on the rule. They then adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

Following a writ petition, another HC bench on February 24, 2020 issued the rule asking the government to explain why the two sections should not be declared unconstitutional.

The petitioners are Dhaka University teachers Mohammad Ismail, Md Kamruzzaman and Md Rafiqul Islam; journalist Mohammad Abdullah; and Supreme Court lawyers Md Asad Uddin, Md Asaduzzaman, Md Zobaidur Rahman, Md Mohiuddin Molla and Md Mujahidul Islam.

They submitted the petition to the HC on January 19, 2020, saying that the two sections are hampering freedom of expression and thought.

                  Lawyers Imran A Siddique and Shishir Monir appeared for the writ petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Sk Shaifuzzaman represented the state during the hearing yesterday.