President Abdul Hamid has given consent to the Digital Security Bill, giving it valid legal status, confirmed president’s press secretary, Jainal Abedin.

Last week, bills passed by parliament were sent to the president by the speaker, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, for consent.

According to the constitution’s clause number 80, if any bill is accepted in parliament then it has to be sent to the president for consent.

The president has to give consent within fifteen days but can also ask for it to be re-assessed with requests for corrections.

The civil society, national and international media have deep reservations about certain clauses of the act. Saying that this threatens freedom of speech, media representatives have opposed the act from the beginning.

They also participated at the parliamentary committee meet, raised protest over eight clauses, asking for corrections.

Editors’ council allege that during amendment, their recommendations were not taken into account.

Later, information minister, Hasanul Haque Inu, law minister, Anisul Huq and post, telecommunication and technology minister, Mustafa Jabbar, met the editors’ council and assured them.

On Sept  19, the Digital Security Act – 2018 was passed in parliament. The bill rescinded the controversial clause 57 though the sub-clauses of that act were spread across the new act.