Whereas it is expedient and necessary to make provisions for ensuring digital security and identification, prevention, suppression and trial of offences committed through digital device and for matters ancillary thereto
The Digital Security Act, 2018, was a digital security law in Bangladesh. This act was passed with the aim of preventing the spread of racism; sectarianism; extremism; terrorist propaganda; and hatred against religious or ethnic minorities through social media, print media or any other electronic media. Any content over the internet or any other media that was deemed pornographic or otherwise inappropriate by the government could be punished by fines or prison terms of various lengths. [1]
Digital Security Act was feared that the law could be used to suppress dissenters against the government due to some of its provisions that are vague and ambiguous, open to interpretation or prone to abuse.[2][3][4] This law has been used to sue and arrest journalists, activists and also cyber criminals.[5][6] It has been described as a "Draconian" law.[7]
Digital Security Act was adopted in October 2018.[9] The provision passed the Parliament of Bangladesh in September 2018. The act allows police officers to detain people without a warrant. The act was opposed by members of the media, the opposition Jatiya Party, and human rights organizations.[10] The act was created using Section 57 of Information and Communication Technology Act, which was passed in 2006, as the model.[11] The act was protested by the Editors' Council.[12][13] The Daily Star has been critical of the application of the act, describing it as a gag on the free press.[14][15]
Cases
The Bangladesh police headquarters has reported that in the first five months of 2020, 403 cases were filed and 353 arrests were made under the Act.[16]
Prominent cases
On 14 April 2020, Journalist Golam Sarwar Pintu, of Dainik Bangladesher Alo, was arrested under Digital Security Act.[17]
On 29 April 2020, three journalists were sued in Narsingdi District under the act after publishing news report on an auto rickshaw driver who died after a confrontation with members of Bangladesh Police. The journalists worked for the local newspapers, Dainik Grameen Darpan and Narsingdi Pratidin.[19] The case was filled by officer-in-charge of Ghorashal Police Station, Johirul Alam.[20]
On 8 May 2020, Journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, who had disappeared, was "found" and charged under this act by Bangladesh Police.[25]
Reception
According to Article 19, the act violates human rights and threatens freedom of speech in Bangladesh.[9] According to Amnesty International the act places "dangerous restrictions on freedom of expression". It believed the act will be used against dissidents, similar to the way Information and Communication Technology Act was used to detain hundreds of people.[26] The act has been criticized by the United States as something that could be used to suppress free speech.[27] Bangladesh Nationalist Party has called for the act to be repealed.[28]
22nd Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Syed Mahmud Hossain is a strong supporter of the act. In a verdict made on March 6, 2021, Hossain cautioned an accused of violating the act that there would be no consideration of bail for people who would tarnish the image of Bangladesh in any manner.[29][30][31][32]
