Experts for repealing DSA to salvage press freedom

Experts at a workshop on Sunday demanded the annulment of the Digital Security Act (DSA) to ensure press freedom and human rights.

They also said the government can enact a new law in line with the fundamental rights recognised by the United Nations through discussions with the civil society members by repealing the DSA to ensure digital and cyber security.

News Network organised the programme titled “Advocacy Campaign on Cyberspace, Cyberlaws and Digital Rights” with the support of Internews and EngageMedia at the NGO Forum’s Training Hall in the city’s Lalmatia area.

Speaking at the programme, Rezaur Rahman Lenin, a researcher, human rights activist and legal expert, said the DSA has become a repressive law and a weapon to suppress the freedom of expression.

“Many sections of this law are contrary to the constitution and the UN recognised fundamental rights. This law is also an obstruction to the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression,” he said.

Lenin noted a total of 1,129 cases were filed under the DSA from October 9, 2018, to August 2022. Of them, he said 301 cases were filed against politicians while 280 were against journalists and 157 against teachers and students.

He pointed out that most of the people accused in the cases suffered jail for a long time before the start of the trial process. “Most people arrested in the DSA cases were denied bail at the early stage. Some people even had to stay in jail for a year to get bail in DSA cases,” he said.

Though the abuse of the DSA is growing alarmingly, he said the government is not serious about amending this law. Besides, amending the law alone will not suffice to deal with the issues it raises.

“The government has been only giving assurances to amend the law, but no progress has been made in this regard. In fact the amendment to the law is not enough. This law must be repealed immediately,” Lenin observed.

News Network Editor and CEO Shahiduzzaman and its programme officer Rezaul Karim also spoke at the programme. Twelve senior journalists from different print and electronic media joined the workshop and exchanged their views on the negative impact of the DSA on the media industry. reports UNB.