Editors’ Council will hold a human chain tomorrow (Monday) demanding immediate amendment to nine sections of the Digital Security Act 2018, which came into effect last week.
Members of the council will participate in the human chain programme, which will take place in front of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC).
Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamal Dutta on Saturday disclosed the programme on behalf of the council at a press conference at JPC in the city.
The human chain was supposed to be held on September 29, 2018 but the council postponed it after assurances from three ministers and information adviser to the Prime Minister that the council’s concerns will be addressed.
Reading out the statement of the council, Shyamal Dutta said they had announced a programme of human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club later last month demanding some amendments to the law.
The human chain was postponed at the request of the information minister, who promised to hold a discussion with the law minister and ICT (information and communication technology) minister on the matter, he said.
Mr Dutta said the council members then sat with the three ministers on September 30 who publicly committed to taking their concerns to the cabinet.
The ministers also promised to seek the cabinet approval for resuming discussions with editors so that all efforts were made to work out a version of the law acceptable to all.
“Regrettably, no such efforts were made, nor we got the courtesy of being informed by any of the ministers as to why they failed to keep their promises up. We consider it to be a breach of the trust,” Mr. Dutta said.
Announcing the fresh programme, he said the council members will hold human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club to demand amendment to the sections 8, 21, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 43 and 53 of the law after terming these harmful to the cause of independent journalism and freedom of expression.
“The government makes amendments in the last session of the present parliament,” he said, placing the seven-point demand at the press conference.
General-secretary of the council and editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said they are not against the digital security act.
“We think the country needs strengthening of cyber security. We need an acceptable law for that. We never rejected it,” he said. We wanted amendment to some specific sections of the act that will hamper freedom of the press.”
He said such a law was enacted in India, which was rejected by Indian High Court after terming it unconstitutional.
“We hope the government will be serious and bring amendments in the next parliamentary session,” he added.
It said that the law is against the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press as guaranteed under articles 39 (a) and (b) of the Constitution.
The law contradicts the values of freedom, free speech and rights and the spirit of the Liberation War, according to the council.
It also contradicts the fundamental norms of democracy, free society and fundamental rights guaranteed in the UN Charter and other international laws and instruments and the core values of ethical and independent journalism.
Editor of Manabzamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of New Age Nurul Kabir, editor of Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman, editor of Bangladesh Pratidin Naem Nizam, editor of Kaler Kantho Imdadul Haq Milan, editor of Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of Karatoa Md. Mozammel Haque, editor of Daily Inqilab AMM Bahauddin, editor of the Independent M Shamsur Rahman, acting editor of the Financial Express Shahiduzzaman Khan were present at the press conference.
Also present were acting editor of Sangbad Khandaker Muniruzzaman, acting editor of Jugantor Saiful Alam, editor of Bonik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of Dhaka Tribune Zafar Sobhan and acting editor of Samakal Mustafiz Shafi.
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