The Parliament will pass the bill on Digital Security Act on Wednesday.
The bills for the Road Transport Act and a law recognising top Qawmi Madrasa degree equivalent to post-graduate degrees will also get the House’s clearance the same day, according to Orders of the Day posted on the Parliament’s website.
After Tuesday’s proceedings, the Parliament’s sitting was adjourned till 5pm Wednesday.
On Monday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post, Telecoms And Ict Ministry placed its report on the Digital Security Act 2018 without addressing the issues in at least eight clauses of the law raised by representatives from the media.
It, however, made some changes in the proposed law.
“Necessary amendments based on inputs from representatives of the media have been made. The bill once passed will play a significant role for the Digital Bangladesh campaign,” the panel’s Chairman Imran Ahmed MP said while placing their report before the parliament on Monday.
On Sunday, the Editors’ Council said it was disappointed and shocked at the parliamentary panel’s report, the findings of which were reported in the media the previous day.
It said the report "totally ignored" the concerns expressed by journalists and media organisations.
On Jan 29, the Cabinet gave the green light to the new law’s draft and on Apr 9, it was tabled in the House by Telecoms and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar, when it was forwarded to the Standing Committee for scrutinising.
The proposed law, however, has drawn criticisms with journalists and rights activists find it will effectively stifle the media as well as prevent investigative reporting.
On Sept 13, the bill on the Road Transport Act 2018 was tabled, which was forwarded to the parliamentary panel on the road transport ministry for a report, which was placed in the House on Tuesday.
The Bill has a provision of maximum of 5 years' jail for any death or serious injuries caused by reckless or negligent driving while death penalty for intentional murder by driving.
As per clause 105 of the bill: "If anyone sustains serious injuries or loses his or her life in any motor transport driving-related accident, such offenses will be considered as crimes under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code 1860."
"But provided that no matter whatever punishment is in the provision 304 (B) of the Penal Code, whoever causes serious injuries or death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any motorized vehicle shall be punished with imprisonment of a maximum five-year term or Tk5 lakh as fine or both," the same clause continues.
The maximum punishment for these offences was a seven-year imprisonment in the past, which was later reduced to three, by bringing in an amendment to the law. But the punishment has again been proposed to be increased to five-years of jail.
The bill to recognise Dawrae Hadith (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasah with the status of post-graduate degrees of Islamic Studies and Arabic was placed in the Parliament on Sept 10.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid placed the bill titled – 'Making Dawrae Hadith (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasah Equivalent to Master’s Degree (Islamic Studies and Arabic)' –and it was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.
The proposed law was designed on the basis of the gazette notification the Education Ministry published on April 13, 2017 recognising the Dawrae Hadith degree equivalent to master’s degrees.
The bill will have retrospective effect and those who have so far acquired Dawrae Hadith degrees after the recognition in April, 2017 will be considered as the master’s degree holders.