The parliamentary panel’s final report of the Digital Security Bill did not properly reflect the recommendations made by representatives from the media.
In a joint statement, Editors' Council General Secretary Mahfuz Anam, Association of Television Channel Owners’ President Mozammel Haque Babu and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) former president Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul said the House committee has broken its promise to hold talks with stakeholders before placing the bill in parliament.
They also expressed their deep shock at the government for incorporation such controversial law unilaterally.
“We think, there is still adequate scope to remove inconsistencies mentioned in the law through talks to make it acceptable to all,” reads the statement.
Though some issues have been added to the law based on the recommendations of stakeholders, some sections of the law went against freedom of press and expression.
They said the overall security of media personnel has not been ensured in the law while a contradictory situation has been created by keeping Right to Information Act and Official Secret Act in the bill.
The path of smooth journalism has been hindered by vesting the power to police officials to search or arrest anyone without any warrant, says the statement.
Voicing concern over abuse of the law, the statement called on the government to remove all inconsistencies from the law immediately.
They also sought assurance so that the space of independent journalism is not squeezed and the freedom of expression is not curbed through misuse of the act.