Govt resorts to ‘extreme’ repression using DSA to gag media: BNP

Voicing deep concern over suing one journalist after another, including Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, under the Digital Security Act (DSA), BNP today alleged that the government has been carrying out extreme repression by using the "black law" to gag media.

In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam demanded the immediate repeal of the Digital Security Act and the withdrawal of all cases filed against journalists.

After picking up Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams by law enforcers early Wednesday, Fakhrul said a case was filed against the editor of the newspaper, Matiur Rahman, late last night under the DSA.

Besides, he said a Jubo League leader filed another case under the DSA against Daily Jugantor's Special Correspondent and former general secretary of Crime Reporters' Association Mahbub Alam Lavllu in Chattogram.

The BNP leader strongly protested and denounced the filing of the cases against the journalists under the DSA on "false charges".

"Filing of cases one after the other against journalists, including Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, under the DSA a severe blow to the freedom of expression," he observed.

Fakhrul alleged that the government has demonstrated that it wants to bury democracy forever by filing a case under the Digital Security Act against Matiur Rahman, one of the country's leading newspaper editors.

By suing journalists under the DSA, he said the government wants to send out a message to the country's people that the government's activities cannot be criticised and opinions cannot be expressed freely.

"The Awami League government is continuing its terrible misrule in the country by indiscriminately repressing and suppressing the media, the fourth pillar of the state," the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul claimed the case against Matiur Rahman was undoubtedly filed at the behest of the government.

He also said the country's people and the media are panicking due to the killing and repression of journalists across the country.